Midnight Shadow claimed the spoils in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham after last year's winner Coole Cody fell at the second-last when leading the field.
Midnight Shadow was one of those in close pursuit and jumped the last in front - but he made a mistake there and was all out up the hill to hold the late challenge of Protektorat to land the prize for trainer Sue Smith and Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania.
The eight-year-old was just three-quarters of a length in front at the line to strike at odds of 9-1. Protektorat (11-2 favourite) was half a length ahead of Lalor (7-1) in third, with Dostal Phil (16-1) a length back in fourth place.
There was a strong pace from the start, with Coole Cody getting into the lead once the field settled down. Simply The Betts was prominent in the early stages, as was Al Dancer while Midnight Shadow was fairly handy.
Paint The Dream took closer order as the tempo increased, but his challenged petered out. Coole Cody looked certain to take a hand in the finish, only to make a dramatic exit at the tricky penultimate obstacle.
Dan Skelton was able to breathe a sigh of relief having watched Third Time Lucki maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Novices' Chase.
Sent off the 2-5 favourite, Skelton had seen classy stablemate My Drogo start at a similarly prohibitive price on Friday - only for him to slide to a halt and part company with Harry Skelton at the second-last.
There were no such worries this time, although Third Time Lucki was not quite as exuberant as he had been when winning on his chasing debut last month.
"Harry said he felt fantastic and that he's a horse with a lot of natural pace," said Skelton, whose charge was left at 11-1 with Betfair for the Arkle Trophy in March and cut to 8-1 from 10-1 by Coral.
"During my apprenticeship with Paul (Nicholls), Ruby (Walsh) always used to say there's a difference between speed and pace and in a race pace is so important because you can go your speed very comfortably, which is what he can do.
"Going down the hill Harry started getting him under control, and then from three out to two out also. After the last he pricked his ears and got lonely, it was harder work today visually and while it is trainer chat he was actually fitter for the first day than today.
"I did a lot with him for the first day because I didn't want to have him too fresh, so I pressed him a bit. I trusted him between then and now and I think he jumped the last and just had a blow."
As for future plans, Skelton may now have a change of heart.
"Originally the plan was to go to the Henry VIII after this, but whether that will happen now, I don't know. I need to talk to Mike (Newbould, owner). I could wait for Kempton, which I know is a Grade Two and Sandown a Grade One but the ground will have a big bearing - he won't run on soft or heavy," said Skelton.
"We could even wait for Doncaster (Lightning Novices' Chase) and then come back here. Appreciate It is top of the (Arkle) market and we've got to see what he does. We want to go to the Arkle and hopefully it all works out.
"I was set in my mind to go Sandown and Warwick (Kingmaker) after today, but having watched that I just like the idea of him super fresh. I can do loads with him at home and the best route might be Kempton and then here. Maybe."
Milton Harris improved his already impressive strike-rate for the new season and unearthed a serious Festival candidate as Knight Salute powered home in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.
Trained by Andrew Balding on the level, Knight Salute went regressed after winning on his second start – but is now three out of three over hurdles.
Upped in class to Grade Two company he was sent off a 9-2 chance, and with Paddy Brennan charting his typically wide route into the straight when the stagger evened itself out, Knight Salute was in front.
The favourite Magistrato found disappointingly little up the hill, leaving Saint Riquier to chase home the winner, who was a given a 20-1 quote for the championship event with Coral.
Harris returned to the training ranks in 2018, with the British Horseracing Authority having previously rejected his licence applications after he was declared bankrupt in 2011.
"It's quite emotional really, because it’s been a tough road," he said.
"He’s a good horse, he’s got a bit of pace and if there’s a better tactical rider in the weighing room than Paddy Brennan then I don’t know him.
"I said to him to be last man and I thought he’d got there too soon.
"We might go to something like the Adonis or we might just leave it to the spring. He looks like he’s all right.
"He was given a mark of 91 after his first two races on the Flat and he struggled, but Andrew Balding was very open with me and said he’s by Sir Percy out of an Unfuwain mare so he’s crying out for a trip.
"I said to Paddy if you get to the back of the last with them you’ll win because you’ll be quicker than the rest, and he was."
He added: "I think I’ve won this race before in the past. This is my second go and life is like that sometimes. Some people aren’t lucky enough to get a second chance.
"We’ve got some nice horses. I’ve got some brilliant owners, but relative to the game they’ve got no money. This lad isn’t going to win the Gold Cup, but he might win a Triumph Hurdle."
Sporting John made a triumphant switch from chasing with a confidence-boosting display in the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle.
Philip Hobbs’ charge had disappointed in both his races over fences after winning the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
Freshened up after 218 days, Sporting John (9-2) powered up the hill to beat Onagatheringstorm by two and a half lengths in the hands of Tom O’Brien.
The 3-1 favourite Ballymillsy set the pace until he ran out of steam, while the well-fancied Proschema fell at the second-last flight when in contention.
Hobbs said: "We had him entered in one or two chases but we couldn’t find anything that was competitive, they were all small fields, so it made more sense to run here and it will have given him confidence going over hurdles.
"Last season was in and out, but he did win a Grade One at Sandown so it wasn’t a disaster. We just couldn’t find a race to get him under way over fences.
"Staying hurdling is certainly a possibility, but I wouldn’t rule out going back over fences. On the other hand he could be a high-class hurdler.
"I’ve no idea where we go from here. Having Thyme Hill won’t affect anything, I’d love two runners in the Stayers’ Hurdle!
"Thyme Hill will go for the Long Walk next. He’s perfectly all right after Auteuil. I don’t think it was the French hurdles, more the very heavy ground."
Christian Williams’ Strictlyadancer (9-4 favourite) provided amateur jockey Ben Bromley with a first Cheltenham winner when following up his win at the October meeting in the Jewson Tool Hire Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.
"I always thought jockeys were just saying it for the cameras when they talked about the feeling of having a winner here, but now I know what they mean," said Bromley.
"It’s hasn’t really sunk in yet. It’s unbelievable.
"I can’t describe the feeling. I thought I’d hit the front too soon as he can idle, but he didn’t do that today."
