Air of Entitlement second Cheltenham win

'I was absolutely revved' - Air Of Entitlement and Patrick O'Brien gives Henry de Bromhead a bittersweet boost in final race

A devastating afternoon for the Henry de Bromhead team ended on a bittersweet note when Air Of Entitlement won the festival finale. 

The yard endured the heartbreaking loss of Envoi Allen after the Gold Cup when he collapsed and died following his final race, but Air Of Entitlement gave them a welcome boost with a determined success in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle under Patrick O'Brien. 

O'Brien positioned the 10-1 chance towards the front but bided his time until the home straight, launching a challenge as the field peeled off the rail to take the lead heading into the last. 

A flying leap over the final flight put 25-1 shot Hot Fuss in a strong position to challenge but Air Of Entitlement fought back and muscled her way to a two-and-three-quarter-length success. 

"I'm lost for words, I can't believe it," O'Brien told Racing TV after his first success at the course. "All my friends and family are here and a good friend of mine, Conor Stone-Walsh, had his first winner here during the week. I was absolutely thrilled for him – I can't even believe it's me now.

"Even to get a chance off Henry and Brian [Acheson, owner] for a ride in the race, never mind such a good ride as well, I was really thankful. I couldn't wait for the day to come. I couldn't get a wink of sleep last night, I was absolutely revved.

"I'm thrilled. She was a good winner at the end. My job's easy when I get to steer these wonderful animals around."

Air Of Entitlement has won four times in her eight-race career and half of those have come at the festival, with the seven-year-old landing the Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago under festival legend Rachael Blackmore.

The mare was following up stablemate Heart Wood's Ryanair success on Thursday, but the thoughts of those in the yard are likely to have been elsewhere. 

"He's been a stalwart to the yard and a real favourite," O'Brien said of Envoi Allen. "Hopefully, that gives them a bit of a lift."

Hot Fuss claimed second for Joe Anderson and Tom Dascombe, with the Willie Mullins-trained Jump Allen a further half-length back in third.