Denman (Pic: Getty Images)
Denman, a pulverising powerhouse of a people's horse, gilded a golden age of steeplechasers when pounding home seven lengths clear of a hugely courageous Kauto Star in Friday's Gold Cup, which had been hyped to the heavens and lived up to every ounce of its billing.
This time, 44 years on from Arkle's triumph over Mill House, it was the day of the Big Horse. From the moment Sam Thomas shovelled on the coals when taking it up at the 12th, the furnace began to get all too hot for the pursuers. Denman bowled along launching himself at his fences, with confidence and relish for the task oozing from every pore.
As he steamed down the hill for the final time I said to myself: "Just watch him and enjoy it because this is just how a top chaser should look in full flight."
Team Denman had a plan to pull the air out of the opposition's lungs and he executed it beautifully, brutally and clinically.
Even this great beast of a chaser was weary on the climb to the line but by then the job was done as the stands erupted in joyful acclaim of a new hero.
For me Kauto Star was no less than heroic in second.
Even with the help of Ruby Walsh, the finest jockey of my lifetime, he had never been able to find any rhythm.
While he didn't uproot his fences he was never fluent at them, losing halflengths nearly every time he took off while, up ahead, Denman was gaining ground each time he left it.
But to Kauto Star's undying credit he never gave up and, though he must have been hurting, he battled on relentlessly and performed wonders to get as close as seven lengths.
We have always known Kauto Star had class, but this unavailing performance proved it is also underpinned with courage.
However, this was Denman's hour. Ever since he put his Hennessy field through the mangle under the train-stopping weight of 11st 12lb in December you have just had that nagging feeling that he could be anything and that trying to peg him back could prove mission impossible for Kauto Star in the Gold Cup.
This win put him alongside Desert Orchid as the best staying chaser since Arkle's era in the 60s and that is praise enough.
And credit is due to Paul Nicholls for getting his mighty pair to the races in fine order and saddling the third home to boot.
Nicholls, the owners and all his staff have jumped through every media hoop imaginable in the run-up to the race and we should all be grateful.
Away from the Gold Cup the mind-blowing moment of the week came with Master Minded's masterclass in the Champion Chase. In Channel 4's paddockside commentary box, John Francome, Jim McGrath and Ted Walsh - real seen-it-all men - were utterly awestruck by the manner of his victory.
Jumping gun-barrel straight, he travelled with incredible ease and was seemingly never out of a canter to humiliate a cracking chaser in Voy Por Ustedes, whose last two visits to the Festival brought him Arkle and Champion Chase wins.
This was the best two-mile chase performance of my lifetime and, at just five years old, Master Minded could get better yet.
Every other two-mile chaser in training might as well take up crochet.
And for sheer emotion there will be few moments to match the third success for Inglis Drever in the World Hurdle.
If ever a horse deserved the tag "he wasn't born, he was quarried" it is this little battler whose rally down the hill and then up it to the winning post sent the crowd into raptures of admiration.
Cheltenham deserve the utmost credit for rescuing a meeting that looked to be careering towards disaster when gales forced the course to abandon on safety grounds on Wednesday morning.
The management remained cool under fire and boldly went ahead with ten-and nine-race cards for the last two days.
It must have been toothgrindingly frustrating for some, but the Festival was saved.
Readers of this column even had a few winners put their way, though I feel I should have done better for you on that front.
Still, there is some bread on the table, even if we can't stretch to butter.
Here's to next year when the giants take to the greatest stage in sport once more.
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ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE