Bayan dug deep to take The Ladbroke at Ascot for trainer Gordon Elliott in a dramatic race that was to see both winning rider Davy Condon and Sam Twiston-Davies on runner-up Pine Creek fall foul of the whip rules.
Shelford and the long-absent Balgarry set what looked a healthy gallop up front, tracked within range by Activial, and the latter came to join issue with two to jump. But he made a hash of it as Galway Hurdle runner-up Bayan arrived on the scene at the final flight, having himself been far from fluent at the second last.
Pine Creek pushed the Irish raider all the way but could never quite get there, the line coming a neck too soon. Activial was third with the gallant Shelford fourth.
There was to be quite a sting in the tail for Condon, however, as the stewards took a dim view of his use of the whip from two out. The officials ruled he had used it above the permitted level and suspended him for 15 days. He was fined £3150, a percentage of the winner's prize.
Twiston-Davies was also found in breach with his whip use from the last and banned for four days.
Elliott was at Fairyhouse, where he said of the 14-1 winner: "This has been the plan and he had not run over hurdles since Galway. It was great. I'm delighted - he was very tough."
It was an emotional success for Condon, who has been plagued by injuries and was having just his third ride back since a heavy fall at Cork in August.
The jockey suffered three fractured vertebrae and had feared he may not ride again after suffering a rare spinal concussion, which briefly left him unable to move from the neck down.
On his second winner of the Ascot race after Cause Of Causes for Elliott in 2012, he said: "I'm a bit emotional at the moment. It's great to be back - I didn't think I'd make it back. It was my toughest injury so far and I was in a lot of pain.
"I was lucky I had a good group of people around me. Gordon Elliott has been so loyal to me leaving me on the horse. Even though I'm not 100% fit, I rushed to get back and I'm delighted he won.
"He was just idling in front and was there a bit soon, but he stays well and I knew I had to press on early as he has real stamina."
At The Races presenter Gary O'Brien is part of the winning Core Syndicate and said: "My heart nearly stopped in that last furlong. When he made a mistake at the second last, I thought the game was up, but he is such a gutsy horse and you never know when you are beaten when he is on a going day."
Reve De Sivola joined the mighty Big Buck's as a three- time winner of the JLT Long Walk Hurdle with a fighting display.
The Twiston-Davies-ridden Zarkandar came cruising upsides at the last, but having hit the front, he momentarily idled and was outstayed by a head by the 13-2 winner.
Daryl Jacob, whom Paul Nicholls replaced as stable jockey at the end of last season, was left to contemplate a bitter-sweet success on the Nick Williams-trained winner achieved despite a fairly serious early mistake.
Jacob, who rode Zarkandar to win the Triumph Hurdle in 2011, paid tribute to Richard Johnson, Reve De Sivola's regular partner, who is serving a ban.
He said: "Reve De Sivola was very good, very tough and he has a massive heart, which he has always shown.
"The one thing that stands him in good stead is his heart. This is as much for for Dickie as it is for me. He has played a massive part in this horse's career…I know Reve De Sivola has a big heart and knew it was never over until he crossed the line."
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