Fans' favourite Paisley Park pulled off a remarkable Cheltenham performance after he completely blew the start.
The former Festival winner gifted his rivals, including hot favourite Champ, a huge lead in the Cleeve Hurdle.
Punters feared their bets were down when the ten-year-old was very slowly away under Aidan Coleman.
Paisley Park was trotting forward with the four other runners when he suddenly whipped round.
Coleman eventually got him going but he lost around 15 lengths to 8-15 favourite Champ and the others.
As the race went on, the pair began to make up the ground they lost and with two hurdles to jump, they were still last but in touch.
From the home turn, Paisley Park really started to motor and challenged Champ up the stands rail.
Twice the winner of the Grade 2 race previously, plus the 2019 Stayers' Hurdle, the 5-1 shot kept on strongly to go three-and-a-quarter lengths clear.
Paisley Park pricked his ears in response to huge cheers from racegoers on his return to the winners' enclosure.
Coleman, delighted to complete the challenge, said his big race hero had threatened some pre-race antics previously.
"I said to Paddy Brennan at the top of the hill – 'I'm still in it even though I whipped around'' he added.
"He's just different around this track and regardless of what's gone before or after, this is very special for a multitude of reasons, mainly because of how much of a champion he is."
Paisley Park is 7-1 (from 20-1) to regain his Stayers' Hurdle crown with Paddy Power, with original ante-post favourite Champ now 6-1.
In-running, Ruby Walsh predicted Paisley Park couldn't "possibly win" from his position – and huge odds on the exchanges suggested that.
Asked about what he would do as a jockey, by ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles, he said: "No, you just give up and head back to the Parade Ring."
Racing followers were delighted with the win for the former champion, with one saying: "Paisley Park & Aidan Coleman. What a combo."
Another added: "Paisley Park and Aidan Coleman are one of the best partnerships in the sport."
