12/1 shot The Bunny Boiler crowned a truly memorable day for trainer Noel Meade when landing the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National before a huge holiday crowd of 15,305.
The eight year-old's victory in the E170,000 feature was the highlight of a marvellous 6824/1 four-timer for the Meath handler, a feat he achieved previously on the same day twelve years ago.
In a race that developed into a war of attrition, with less than half the field completing the course, The Bunny Boiler was held up by Ross Geraghty before making progress to track the leaders entering the straight.
Left second after the fall of Timbera two out, the Midlands National hero had just headed Give Over when a terrible blunder at the final fence cost him valuable momentum.
Geraghty, choosing the best possible moment to lose his 5lb claim, soon got his mount going again however and the pair had an ever-increasing 1 1/2 lengths in hand at the finish.
Long-time leader Northern Sound kept on to take the minor honours, while favourite Commanche Court was beaten a long way from home and was eventually pulled up by Ruby Walsh.
Meade was in understandably jubilant mood after finally adding the famous Easter Monday feature to his list of big-race victories.
'Tom Dreaper has been my hero all my life, and on the way here today I actually went through all his National winners. I never dreamt I'd win it myself one day.'
'My heart nearly stopped at the last, but Ross did brilliantly and this means so much as it's my local track. It's one of my greatest ever days as a trainer,' said Meade, who also saddled eventual fourth Arctic Copper.
Earlier, Scottish Memories set the ball rolling when running out a decisive winner of the Grade 2 Powers Gold Label Novice Hurdle, in which favourite Sacundai could manage only a disappointing fifth.
The five year-old, a slightly unlucky seventh in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, took command after the second last and went right away to dismiss the staying-on Balapour by eight lengths.
'He did that nicely and will go to Punchestown now,' said the Meade. 'This horse stays well and is a nice prospect for next season,' he added.
Number two came courtesy of Billy Bonnie (Ian Power), who got the better of the fast-finishing The Culdee in a desperate finish to the 2m6f handicap hurdle.
The pair were separated by a short-head at the finish, with gambled-on favourite Rapid Deployment only a head further back in third.
Rising star Power later made it a double for himself and four in all for the stable as Lights And Music stayed on gamely to see off the pace-setting It's Only Him in the 2m2f beginners chase.
Hyderabad and Turtleback, fifth and sixth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, fought out a tremendous finish to the opening 4yo hurdle with Mouse Morris' charge just confirming his superiority.
Turtleback looked to have seized a decisive advantage after jumping the final flight, but David Casey galvanised his mount to such great effect that they swept past close home for a 3/4 length triumph.
Western View was an authoritative winner of the 2m6f handicap chase for Cecil Ross and Barry Cash, and the well the well-backed Ross River took the bumper in great style.
Jockeys Norman Williamson, Ken Whelan and Danny Howard were all stood down for 24 hours after heavy tumbles during the afternoon, while Garrett Cotter suffered a suspected fractured elbow after a fall from World Wide Web.
