Fehily, himself a multiple Festival-winning rider, said: “It was nerve-racking stuff watching it but when she hit the front we knew she’d come home strong. She never knows when to give up and Johnny Burke had the perfect pitch the whole way.”

David Crosse, who runs the syndicates with Fehily, added: “Noel and I have been friends a long time and decided to go into syndicates a few years ago. We buy the horses together as two heads are always better than one and we both liked this mare when we first saw her. Days like this are what we dream of.”

Jockey Burke was celebrating his first ever Festival success. “I’ve dreamed of this since I was a young boy,” he beamed. “I’m delighted for Noel and Dave, who put such a lot of work into buying the right horses and running their syndicates.

“Two days ago we weren’t even running here, but when the rain was forecast we changed our minds and let her take her chance. If we hadn’t declared we’d have been sick.

“She’s a very classy mare. Everything we’ve asked her to do she’s risen to the challenge. She’s just very good and I had a lot of confidence in her.

“The plan was to stay wide as she’s keen and I didn’t want to get into a barging match with her. I got a grand run down the hill and wanted to keep it simple. It was the longest run-in that I’ve ever had but she’s so tough and I knew she would stay well up the hill.”

Fry, whose Albert Bartlett winner unowhatimeanharry was partnered to glory at the Festival by Fehily six years ago, added: “It’s brilliant for Noel. We’ve had a lot of success together and it’s great to be training such a classy horse as Love Envoi for his syndicates.”

Fehily and Crosse were hoping for a double half an hour later when Come On Teddy lined up in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Trophy, but despite creeping into the race his challenge petered out before the turn for home.