Harry O'Dwyer admitted to being both relieved and thrilled after riding his first winner on Bluescape in front of a huge crowd at the Kimblewick Hunt Point-to-Point meeting at Kimble in Buckinghamshire on Easter Saturday.
The 20-year-old, who came over from Dunshaughlin in County Meath to work for Fergal O'Brien last year, was having his 24th ride between the flags and under Rules in this country and in Ireland.
And, after several near misses, he got off the mark on the Bradley Gibbs-trained five-year-old mare in the Elliott of London Maiden.
Taking up the running at the second-last, O'Dwyer's mount was two lengths up on Silver Fish at the final fence when that rival blundered and unseated Daniel Kyne, leaving Bluescape to come home 25 lengths ahead of Dave's Sister and Sam Lee.
O'Dwyer, who was having his eighth UK point-to-point ride, said: "It is a massive relief. Everyone dreams about their first winner and to get one for Bradley, who has been so good to me since I came over is a massive thrill. She was so game and tough."
The winning rider added: "I'm from a big hunting family and my uncle, Ronan O'Dwyer, does a lot of pre-training for the big trainers. I just got the bug through young thoroughbreds and going into racing yards at home."
O'Dwyer's maiden victory rekindled fond memories for owner James 'Chub' Castle, who lives at nearby Long Crendon.
"It is 57 years since I rode my first winner here on What's Wanted II," he said. "I bred Bluescape (out of his Galileo mare Blue Zealot) and that makes it all the more pleasant."
The daughter of Cityscape was fulfilling the promise of her debut second under Ed Vaughan at Kingston Blount last month.
Gibbs, who trains at Lemsford, near Welwyn Garden City, commenting: "She has been very mentally immature. She learnt a lot from the first day and came forward again.
"Ed was not available and I had a good replacement in Harry. He is an exceptional rider for a young lad."
With watering having taken place in the week, the going was Good to Firm, Good in Places and just 19 runners lined up with the opening Hildreth's Garden Centre Veteran Horse Conditions Race (Level 2) declared void after none of the 11 entries stood their ground.
Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill has struck at this meeting every year stretching back to 2011 and he teamed up with daughter-in-law Izzie for a short-priced double courtesy of IK Brunel and Solider Unknown.
Sent off the 1-3 favourite to beat two rivals in the Cala Homes Mixed Open over 2m 4f, IK Brunel took up the running from Samtara at the second-last before being pushed out by Izzie to hold off Lee's mount by a length. Eritage was 30 lengths back in third.
The winning rider said: "He is such a class horse. He won at Kingston two weeks ago and has been in such good form since. He loves the sun on his back and comes into himself at this time of year.
"He idled slightly up the run-in. He is such a character, so tough and keeps digging deep. He has taken me to Aintree and Cheltenham in the Foxhunters and you couldn't ask for a better partner than him."
A return to Kingston Blount on May 11 is on the cards now followed by a possible crack at the ladies' final at Stratford, with Alan adding: "If I had a stable full of horses like him, I would be a very lucky trainer."
The gelding is owned by the IK Brunel Partnership consisting of Lynn and Martin Redman, Rodney and Gillie Mann and Maurice Thomas.
Rodney commented: "He jumps really well and I think he is better at Kingston where there are more bends. We have had a lot of fun with him."
Mann also owns Soldier Unknown with Alan and his son, Joe, under the partnership A Mann & Two Hills, and their double was completed when the 1-2 favourite bounced back to winning ways in a match for the Fantham Family Kimblewick/Berks And Bucks Draghounds/Oakley Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race.
After winning four of his first five starts, the six-year-old had unseated and pulled up on his last two starts but put those blemishes behind him with a confidence-boosting success.
Stranger Danger and Phil York attempted to challenge at the fourth-last, but Izzie's mount was having none of it as he quickly stretched clear to win by 16 lengths.
The trainer, who was winning the hunt race for the 14th time, said: "At the beginning of the season he was going to be my new stable star. He won well at Wadebridge, but then made a mistake at Charing and ran no race at Kingston, so we took him to Ben Brain, the wind expert.
"He did a procedure on him and said don't run him on very soft ground, which he likes, so we just thought this was a good race with two runners and better ground."
Izzie added: "He felt as good as ever. Hopefully he will finish this season on a high and come back bigger and stronger. I think that is the best he has ever quickened."
Katie Featherstone believes there's plenty more to come from Commander Of Ten after her Irish import followed up his Kingston Blount debut win in this country by taking the Richardsons Chartered Accountants Conditions Race (Level 3), for Novice Riders.
The owner-trainer-rider, from Wadhurst in Sussex, bided her time on the eight-year-old before collaring the front-running Westhill at the second-last and the 5-4 favourite forged clear to beat Anna Mackenzie's mount by four lengths.
Featherstone, having her first ride at Kimble, said: "He is a very exciting horse. I just tried to keep hold of him and not go too early. He definitely stays three miles and the rest.
"I saw a little gap down the inside two out and he stayed on well. Hopefully I will run him at Godstone in a couple of weeks and then back to Kingston Blount."
James King kept up his challenge for the Tattersalls Jockey Club Men's Championship when Elle Est Beau maintained her unbeaten record between the flags by completing a hat-trick in a match for the 5G Communications Restricted.
The reigning champion matched strides on the Luke Price-owned and trained seven-year-old with Sureamsassy and Sam Lee before pulling clear from the third-last to romp home by 14 lengths.
King said: "For a big mare quick ground suits. She glides across it. She was having a right gawp around, so I kept the revs up. Maybe she will be out again next week knowing Luke."
Price, making his first visit to Kimble from his Ynysybwl base, near Pontypridd, confirmed that Elle Est Beau would be kept busy.
"She will just carry on until the end of the season and we will win as many races as we can," he said. "They have not been the strongest of races she has been winning, but you can only beat what is in front of you."
The meeting was preceded by two pony races, sponsored by Ashley Wilde.
Chloe Fox-Pitt, 12, recorded a seventh straight win on Avalon Dancer in the 138cm & Under Open Race and will now head for the Racecourse Series.
Freddie Robson, 15, then made the 670-mile round trip from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders worthwhile with a runaway triumph on She's A Corker in the 148cm & Under Open Race. Sporting the colours of his godmother, Clare and Paul Rooney, Robson is the grandson of eventer Ian Stark.