Inglis Drever (right) surges past Baracouda.

By Dave Ord

What a week for County Durham.

Graham Wylie may have invested millions in building up his equine empire at Howard Johnson's yard but could not have envisaged such a quick return.

Calm when Arcalis won the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle and slightly shaken by No Refuge's victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle 24 hours later, he should be rocked to his core by the triumph of Inglis Drever in the Ladbroke World Hurdle.

This was a landmark win, a young hurdler finally ending any doubts over whether Baracouda still reigned supreme.

There was no fluke about this, just a genuine shift in power.

Inglis Drever didn't have the pace to beat the best at two miles, but he has too may guns for the cream of the three mile crop.

Pushed along turning for home he found reserves and plenty of them for Graham Lee. At the last he was alongside Baracouda, soon he was clear of him.

The best is yet to come from the winner but with No Refuge and Royal Rosa in the same silks, team Wylie will have some interesting plans to make next term.

There has to be a sense of sadness at the defeat of Baracouda but no disgrace.

Cajoled beautifully into the race by Tony McCoy he held every chance but the old legs don't get up the famous hill as well as they used to. He has been a great but now there is one better.

Rule Supreme came home strongly for third but again had a costly flat spot in the race – he has talent though and will always be respected in the top staying heats over hurdles and fences.

Earlier in the day there was a cracking first renewal of the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy.

Thisthatandtother ending a frustrating run of second places with a gallant win over Fondmort. It was a clash to set the pulses racing.

So was the opener and the remarkable performance of Matty Bachelor aboard King Harald.

He could easily have parted company with the winner at the last when he lost his irons. He may be a little tender in the morning but somehow kept the partnership in tact and King Harald did the rest.

It was some start to a fantastic day and for the first time at the Festival there was a real sense of the younger brigade taking control.