The crowd came to see Sprinter Sacre and despite being mastered by 7-2 shot Dodging Bullets on his comeback in the Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase remains very much the target.
Nicky Henderson's 4-6 favourite travelled with his usual fluency, but had no answer to the winner.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the Noel Fehily-ridden Dodging Bullets had Sprinter Sacre's measure approaching the final fence and went on to win by three lengths.
Henderson said: "Sprinter just got a little bit tired. It was great to see he was full of his enthusiasm, he travelled into the straight like himself and just got tired.
"Only one day matters and he'll come on plenty for that."
Nicholls' assistant trainer Tom Jonason said: "He's improving so much physically and is bigger and stronger.
"This came off the back of a career-best in the Tingle Creek so that has proved to be solid form.
"Sprinter may have needed the run, but our lad's performance was absolutely out of the top draw."
Barry Geraghty's stalking ride on Top Notch had earlier helped Henderson's charge land the Sodexo Juvenile Hurdle at Ascot.
The 30-100 favourite hit the front just before the last flight before scoring by two and a quarter lengths from Golden Doyen.
Henderson said: "Peace And Co might be the one for the Triumph Hurdle, but this horse would be a good back-up if that was the case."
Henderson and Geraghty combined for a double with Out Sam in the last, but the winner is more likely to head to Aintree rather than Cheltenham.
Bitofapuzzle provided Harry Fry with yet another notable success in the Grade Two OLBG.com Mares' Hurdle.
Carole's Spirit, last year's runner-up, looked like gaining the upper hand, but Bitofapuzzle's found a bit more.
Land Of Vic also stayed on from a long way back to finish third, but Fry's mare (5-2 favourite) held on by half a length.
Winning jockey Noel Fehily said: "It turned into a war but she has a big heart and wasn't giving up.
"She'd have to step up again to tackle the likes of Annie Power and three miles suits her well."
Baradari (11-2) got up close home under a tremendous ride from Aidan Coleman to deny Lyvius in the Keltbray Holloway's Hurdle.
Trained by Venetia Williams, Baradari had run no race at all in the Greatwood at Cheltenham, won by the reopposing Garde La Victoire.
Garde La Victoire looked a threat but Lyvius soon took command under Geraghty, only for a sloppy leap at the last to hand Baradari and Coleman an opening.
He won by a neck, with Le Mercurey six lengths back in third.
Williams said: "Ever since he was a staying-on fifth in the Fred Winter, when he ran out of ground, I've been thinking of stepping him up in trip."
Jockey Jack Sherwood was seen to good effect as Rebel Rebellion (12-1) held off the late lunge of Fox Appeal in the bet365 Handicap Chase.
Paul Nicholls' 10-year-old gave the champion trainer a double.
Fox Appeal had plenty of ground to make up in the straight but flew over the last and only went down by a length and a quarter, with Eastlake a long way back in third.
Kings Lad came late to land the Ascot Sponsors' Club Novices' Handicap Chase by a length and a half.
The race had appeared to be between Traffic Fluide and Village Vic, but Colin Tizzard's 5-2 chance came up the inside approaching the last to win going away.
