Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead off the mark at Cheltenham.
Air Of Entitlement stayed on best of all in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle to provide both Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead with their first winners at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Following another false start, the well-fancied Willie Mullins-trained Maughreen whipped round at the standing start causing plenty of early drama.
The drama wasn't finished there, however, as the Gavin Cromwell-trained 85-40 favourite Sixandahalf 85-40 favourite Sixandahalf, who was always well-positioned in behind the leaders, took up the running travelling strongly under Keith Donoghue.
The duo looked to be going much the best on the approach to the final flight and still held the advantage following a good leap over the last.
Blackmore was in no mood to be denied though and conjured up a late rally from the Robcour-owned Air Of Entitlement, who was driven to the front in the closing stages to deny Sixandahalf by half a length.
The Ben Pauling-trained Diva Luna stayed on well to hold on for the bronze medal spot.
"We knew we had the stamina and the New Course suits horses with that. We always worry about being too handy in that race, but Rachael was spot on," said winning trainer Henry De Bromhead.
"I thought they went a real good gallop, and she gave her some spin. It was a little bit like Telmesomethinggirl a few years ago.
"We weren't as far back as we normally are, but she stayed on really well. I thought when we winged the last, we had a chance.
"I knew Keith (Donoghue on Sixandahalf) had been up there the whole way and historically that hasn't worked as we have had a couple that did that.
"That straight is a long way up there so I thought we had a chance after jumping the last so I'm delighted.
"I always say I prefer coming here fresh and happy rather than feeling that I have to justify myself coming here."
On future plans, De Bromhead is uncertain what the future holds for his latest Cheltenham Festival scorer.
He said: "We will enjoy today and see, but she is a mare with stamina. She is classy and is really exciting. I'm delighted for Robcour as they are brilliant supporters of our yard and of the game.
"All the horses yesterday had a similar chance to her in my mind. You just need it to fall for you."
It was a first winner of the week for an emotional Rachael Blackmore, who dedicated the success to her late cousin Robert.
"It's a magical place to be up here. It's brilliant, she did it really well, she came through the race lovely. I want to dedicate this to my cousin, Robert Blackmore, who passed away at the weekend, his funeral is today, so I want to dedicate this to him," said Blackmore.
She added: "We have had a quieter [first] two days. Walking home on Tuesday, I feel I've been spoiled the last couple of years getting to go home with a winner on Tuesday.
"Henry just does such an incredible job with them when he brings them over here for Cheltenham, they all run above themselves and I'm very lucky to be on some of their backs."
Gavin Cromwell was delighted with the run from his mare Sixandahalf, who filled the runner-up spot having travelled into the contest like the winner.
He concluded: "She ran really well - jumped and travelled really well everywhere, and probably just could have done with something to lead her a bit further. I did think after jumping the last that she was going to go away and win.
"I suppose there was a target on my back then. She jumped brilliantly and didn't do anything wrong - she just got beat."
