Daffodils bloomed yesterday morning in Howard Johnson's home village of Crook, in Co Durham. Later in the afternoon, Inglis Drever did likewise to win the Ladbroke World Hurdle for a record third time. His thrilling denial of Kasbah Bliss after a titanic struggle brought Cheltenham to life with a verve verging on the Gaelic.

Hats were thrown, throats were shouted sore and bookmakers' satchels lightened as Inglis Drever scythed through from the rear to seize his moment of history. And on returning to unsaddle, he was accorded a reverential reception by galleries who had made him their Festival banker.

Cometh the hour, cometh the horse whose qualities mirror those with which Katchit landed the Champion Hurdle two days earlier. Except that Inglis Drever has been around much longer. His bewitching virtues and distinctive racing style have won countless hearts - not least those of Johnson, his trainer, and Graham Wylie, his owner.

Inglis Drever was one of the first horses Wylie bought when he embraced the sport five years ago. There will never be another like him if he bought a thousand more. “Maybe one day I'll realise what he's done,” the computer software magnate said, “but it is far too emotional now.”

Johnson, by contrast, was less prone to the contagious fever generated by Inglis Drever. “When he pinged the last, I knew he would go home,” the trainer said. “I have had other good horses but this one's the toughest. He's like a little Jack Russell - a bit like me.”

Inglis Drever narrowly missed out as Wylie's inaugural Festival winner when he just failed to get up in the two-mile five-furlong novice hurdle in 2004. Then, as now, he threw a mild sulk when he was hampered with three flights remaining. So familiar have his idiosyncrasies become down the years, however, that his jockey, Denis O'Regan, was prepared.

“You can always tell when he's about to start running again because he puts his head on one side and his eyes pop out,” Johnson said. This time he did so on the long run down towards the second-last flight. By then, Hardy Eustace had flattered briefly but Kazal's thrust for home carried more menace.

Following Kazal through was Kasbah Bliss, whom Inglis Drever tracked as the trio galloped furiously towards the final flight. Inglis Drever needed to be foot-perfect and he duly obliged to snatch the lead from Kasbah Bliss. Yet the latter would not succumb.

Kasbah Bliss is trained by François Doumen, whose great stayer, Baracouda, was foiled in his World Hurdle hat-trick bid by Inglis Drever three years ago. The boot was now on the other foot, with Doumen's young protégé seemingly poised for revenge. But he had met his master.

O'Regan, 24, was the third different jockey to win the World Hurdle aboard Inglis Drever after Graham Lee and Paddy Brennan. That says much about Johnson's irregular ways. “Denis will still be there next season if he wants to be,” he said. “I'm still pally with Paddy but I don't speak to Graham because he doesn't speak to me.”

Brennan has since returned south to link up with Nigel Twiston-Davies and the pair extended their successful association when Ballyfitz ground down allcomers in the Pertemps Final. It was the trainer's eighth Festival winner, but a first in four years.

“It was a brilliant ride from Paddy, as we've come to expect,” Twiston-Davies said. Typically, he then talked up the chance of derailing the projected duel between Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup today. “We are fed up with thirds here and we want a bit more. Just wait for Knowhere.”

Knowhere's prospects were neatly amplified when Our Vic, whom he beat here in January, capitalised on a soft lead to resist Mossbank in the Ryanair Chase. Timmy Murphy excelled aboard a horse who has never fenced with purpose, while first-time blinkers had the desired effect.

It was David Pipe's second winner of the week and one the trainer savoured. “He is an old favourite who deserved to win a race at the Festival,” Pipe said. This was Our Vic's fifth visit and the closest he had come previously was when runner-up in this race last year. That said, he has been known to down tools, as he did when favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase four years ago.

While two trainers shed their Festival virgin status yesterday, one has taken a good deal longer than the other. Sue Smith has been training successfully in the North for 13 years, so Mister McGoldrick's triumph in the Racing Post Plate was more than welcome. He was also a first Festival winner for Dominic Elsworth.

Evan Williams, for his part, is the up-and-coming force in Wales. He made the point eloquently when High Chimes ran away with the Kim Muir Chase under James Tudor, who also doubles as his assistant. “It's fair to say I am somewhat emotional,” the trainer said.

And as dusk descended, Cousin Vinny, trained by Willie Mullins, led home a clean sweep for Ireland in the concluding Weatherbys Champion Bumper. On a day of thumping triumphs, none resonated with greater force than Inglis Drever's.