Writing the perfect script can be a difficult thing, but Politologue provided owner John Hales with exactly that on the 20th anniversary of the death of One Man when landing the JLT Melling Chase at Aintree.
Having lost his incredibly popular grey in the Grade One contest back in 1998, Hales left Merseyside with a smile on his face this time after the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding gained his own piece of redemption in atoning for his final-fence fall in the Maghull Novice' Chase 12 months ago.
Travelling behind early leader Balko Des Flos for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, the 11-1 shot, wearing a first-time tongue tie and with the hood returned, pressed on with eventual runner-up Min after the second-last.
On the run to the final fence it looked a case of 'how far' for Willie Mullins' 11-10 favourite in his bid to go one better than in the Champion Chase, with him seemingly travelling the better, but it was not to be with Politologue fighting all the way up the run-in to prevail by a neck.
Hales said: "It is fantastic, he jumped the last first last year and stumbled and fell. But that was a wonderful performance. They didn't give him much chance, but that showed them.
"He was totally relaxed today, a different horse from Cheltenham and Paul was totally right to put the hood back on.
"He jumped for fun today and thoroughly deserved it."
He went on: "Obviously Neptune (Collonges) came along and won the Grand National for me here, but that was a truly great performance. He has outstayed them at the end. I was over the moon. He fought all the way.
"It is 20 years ago today I lost him (One Man), but thank you Aintree. Of course it still hurts, but we have won the Grand National and we have another great grey now."
For Nicholls, genuine top-class performers have been thin on the ground in recent seasons, but with Politologue showing he is no one-hit wonder after adding to his Tingle Creek success at Sandown, he appears to have one back on his hands.
The Ditcheat handler: "That was brilliant. He jumped and stayed on really strongly. He has just got to the stage now that he wants two and a half. He blew his brains at Cheltenham.
"I just think a flat track suits him and he doesn't seem to like Cheltenham for whatever reason. It was a great ride from Sam (Twiston-Davies).
"At least he is relaxing and getting a trip, which is probably what he has always wanted. It is 20 years ago today he (Hales) lost One Man, but you can't go back, you've always got to look forward.
"He has won a Tingle Creek, a Haldon Gold Cup and this. It is great to come here and have a Grade One winner. Hopefully we can find a few more like him."
As for winning rider Twiston-Davies, the emotions seen in his celebration after the line demonstrated just how important the victory was in what has been a mixed campaign.
Twiston-Davies said: "It was a good shout by Paul to put the hood back on, it helped him relax and he got in a great rhythm.
"When Min came up all I was hoping was that I winged the last to have a chance again, when something is travelling like that you are always concerned but one thing with him is that he tries very hard."
He added: "I needed that one, it's been a trying time, Paul is trying to rebuild, looking for new stars, I've been injured, I got a few decisions wrong, missed a few winners and gave some horses some not-so-great rides, but these ones make it worthwhile and help me to believe in myself again."
Mullins said of Min: "I think he was beaten by the winner just having the running rail coming up the straight.
"Our fella did everything right. He stayed as well as the winner, or almost. I thought the running rail was crucial in the final furlong.
"Coming back from two up to two and a half, he wanted to go a different pace and it's very hard for some horses to adjust, but it was the same for the winner.
"Hopefully he'll go to Punchestown if he comes out of this."