Memories of Cheltenham Festival successes for the likes of Fingal Bay and La Landiere came flooding back in timely fashion for owners Roger and Carol Skan after the victory of Shoal Bay in the Hunt members contest at Shelfield Park on Saturday.
Since the glory days of La Landiere's win in the 2003 Cathcart Cup and Fingal Bay landing a gamble in the 2014 Pertemps Hurdle Final at the Festival, the Skan's have not been regular visitors to the winner's circle.
But the pair braved the showers in West Warwickshire to witness the rejuvenated Shoal Bay regain winning ways in style by easily seeing Chief Hopper to take the spoils under a good ride from Oliver Boyden.
The 10-year-old is now trained by Olly Murphy's mother Annabel and she said: "Picking up the trophy for this race means as much to Roger and Carol as all of their previous big race wins as this is the real grass roots of the sport. It is their first time pointing and they are loving it."
Of Shoal Bay, she explained: "He fell out of love with Rules racing and my son Olly though it might be a good idea giving him a spin pointing and we have spent a bit of time rekindling his enthusiasm - it seems to have worked judging by the way he has won there."
Just for good measure, the Murphy family posted an across the card family double only minutes later after her son saddled Butch to land the opener at Uttoxeter.
The Murphy/Boyden axis were hopeful of notching another victory on the card with Fierami in the Novice Riders' contest but the pair had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Butte Montana.
Winning pilot Molly Landau moved the joint top (at the time of writing) alongside Amber Jackson-Fennell with five victories in the battle for the Ladies Novice title.
Another horse to benefit from a change of routine proved to be Runwiththetide who took the 2m 4f Restricted race for new trainer Kelly Morgan after being sold out of Dan Skelton's yard.
Morgan said: "I think the switch to a smaller yard, individual attention and a change of scenery has worked wonders for the mare as she now seems to be a lot more enthusiastic.
"Hopefully she can win again in the near future as she won with a bit in hand and seemed to like the rain softened conditions."
Philip Rowley travelled to the meeting with three horses and completed a double with Slievegar and Salvatore. It would have been a treble but Deerstalker will always be remembered as the one that slipped through the net.
Slievegar proved to be rider Toby McCain-Mitchell's fifth winner of the term and equalled his previous career best after just getting the better of Champion Chase for the Conditions contest.
The jockey said of his mount: "He has strengthened up and handles the soft ground these days and is not bad as he was given to us because he had wind problems which seem to have been sorted out."
Salvatore only had to see off Dr Oakley for the Men's Open and duly did so under Darren Andrews by a neck in what turned out to be a cat and mouse affair from the outset.
Conversely, Deerstalker had the closing Maiden sewn up bar the shouting only to over-jump at the final fence and crumple on landing. Mighty Monarch proved to be the beneficiary.
Dounikos proved the answer to the Ladies Open as he bravely got the better of For Rita after the pair had duelled from the second last fence.
Winning rider Iola Hopkinson, who works in financial services, said: "Both my pointing wins have been on this horse and he is a star. I have to thank his owner, Carlos Baird, who is a very good friend for letting me ride."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I love you Kelly Morgan, you have saved my afternoon" - Alice Stevens after partnering Morgan's Runwiththetide to success following two near misses with Champion Chase and For Rita earlier on the card.