Tornado Flyer sprang a surprise as he landed the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Danny Mullins, the winner was sent off a 28-1 shot (longest priced winner of the Christmas highlight) - but made a mockery of that price as he came home clear in the Christmas feature.
He looked to be travelling well turning in and so it proved as he came home clear of Clan Des Obeaux, as his trainer Paul Nicholls swept the place honours with Saint Calvados third and Frodon fourth.
The winner's stablemate Asterion Forlonge would have made the frame had he not crashed out at the last, while Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo disappointed for Rachael Blackmore and 3-1 favourite Chantry House was pulled up.
Tornado Flyer is a shock winner of the Grade 1 @Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, blowing his rivals away in a dramatic renewal 🌪️
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) December 26, 2021
It's a second success in the race for trainer @WillieMullinsNH and a double on the card for @dan2231 👏
Asterion Forlonge is up and ok 👍 pic.twitter.com/IqE8nHjhzJ
Afterwards the winning rider, who completed a double on the day when striking earlier with Jacamar in a Novices' Chase on what was his first trip to Kempton, told ITV Racing: "I didn't think he was totally out of it as he has always had the promise to deliver something like this.
"I knew he had a squeak and going away from the stands the second time he started to come alive. Down the back I was able to keep filling him up.
"When he got to the last he started idling and I wouldn't have minded Asterion getting to me as I think I had a little left - but I was happy enough to be left along in front.
"When you are riding for Willie you've always got a chance whatever their price. I was lucky enough to ride a Grade One winner for him the other week at a big price, you've always got a chance.
"This year has been a great year for me, loads of winners at big festivals and to top it off with the King George is great. It's one of the races of the season."
Willie Mullins, who was in Leopardstown, added: "I was totally surprised. I thought he might run a good race, but I couldn't see him in the first four. Danny gave him a very cute ride and he was awesome on him.
"John Turner has a share in him and he said to bring him over. He couldn't even go into the racecourse and had to watch from the last furlong in the car park because he had his elderly parents and was afraid to bring them into the crowd with covid. It's a fantastic day for him."
"Every season he promises to run a race like that, but every season he tapers off. This year we changed the way we do things with him at home and it's obviously working."
He added: "There has to be a big race in Asterion Forlonge when he puts it all together. It looked like he was going to be second and maybe we just need him to mature another bit to get everything right."
Elsewhere, Epatante regained her Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle crown in style as she came home clear in the Grade One.
Nicky Henderson's charge landed the prize in 2019 before going on to Champion Hurdle glory the following spring, but she suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Silver Streak last term and could finish only third at Cheltenham in March.
The mare underwent back surgery over the summer and having dead-heated with the reopposing Not So Sleepy in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last month, she made sure of outright victory here under Nico de Boinville.
Epatante (4-5 favourite) stepped up to challenge Not So Sleepy with three to jump and the result hardly looked in doubt from that point onwards.
She just had to gallop out to the line, prevailing by two and a quarter lengths from staying-on 28-1 shot Glory And Fortune
Bravemansgame produced a brilliant performance to get the better of Ahoy Senor in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase.
The duo had clashed over hurdles last season, with Ahoy Senor inflicting a shock defeat at Aintree as a 66-1 shot – but Bravemansgame comprehensively reversed that form over the bigger obstacles in what was a highly-anticipated clash.
Ahoy Senor was the 11-10 favourite for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox, and the market leader was sharply away, setting out to make all in the three-mile Grade One contest.
In contrast, Harry Cobden was happy to adopt patient tactics on the 6-5 chance Bravemansgame, tracking the leader in second before really starting to line up his challenge with a handful of fences left to jump.
A slightly lacklustre leap at the third-last from Ahoy Senor cost him valuable momentum and Cobden was perfectly placed to seize the advantage, kicking for home on Bravemansgame who quickly changed gear to streak away.
Paul Nicholls’ charge was seven and a half lengths clear at the line, maintaining his perfect record of three wins from as many fencing starts.
Watch the Leopardstown Christmas Festival live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 1pm on 26-29 December.
