Sam Waley-Cohen saw his dreams come true as Long Run powered to a thrilling victory in a vintage totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup today.

The 28-year-old amateur rider was overjoyed after swooping at the last fence on the gelding, who is owned by his father Robert, from Edge Hill, near Banbury, before storming up the hill.

Sent off the 7-2 favourite, the six-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson at Lambourn, was a clear-cut winner with former champions Denman (8-1) and Kauto Star (5-1) seven lengths and a further four lengths back in second and third respectively.

“This is a very emotional moment,” said Sam, who is the first amateur to win steeplechasing’s blue riband since Jim Wilson partnered Little Owl to victory 30 years ago.

“The horse jumped awesomely and was very brave. I didn’t know whether I was coming or going at some of the fences.

“You go into them and throw everything at them, your heart, your soul and your guts.

“I asked him a lot of questions and he answered them all. It’s a surreal moment, sometimes achieving your dreams is difficult to comprehend.”

Waley-Cohen has gained inspiration for his riding career from his late brother, Thomas, who died aged 20 from cancer in 2004, and now has a ward at Oxford Children’s Hospital named in his memory.

And as always, he rode Long Run with Thomas’s initials stitched into his saddle.

Based at Fulham in London, he runs the Portman Healthcare dental group and has received support from many of his riding colleagues.

“Everyone from the point-to-point and amateur world has been so generous, there has been such an upswell of goodwill and I could almost feel them willing me on,” he added. “Not many amateurs have been lucky enough to have a go in this race.”

Indeed, Waley-Cohen is just the fourth amateur rider to win the Gold Cup following Wilson, Richard Black (Fortina, 1947) and Hugh Grosvenor (Thrown In, 1927).