Politologue sprang a surprise to win the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Paul Nicholls' grey made the majority of the running under Harry Skelton in the Grade One two-mile showpiece on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, to easily account for odds-on favourite Defi Du Seuil - who could finish no closer than fourth in the five-runner field.
A race initially billed as the outstanding spectacle of this year's meeting lost much of its lustre with the late defections of both dual champion Altior and Chacun Pour Soi through setbacks.
It was presumed by many that the door was therefore open for Defi Du Seuil, but instead 6-1 shot Politologue led home a 1-2 for Nicholls - with Dynamite Dollars a nine-and-a-half-length runner-up.
Winning owner John Hales spoke to ITV after the race and said: "That was brilliant, he dictated from start to finish. Harry rode him brilliantly. I'm over the moon. It's my third Queen Mother's..."
Trainer Paul Nicholls added: "He looked amazing all week, he’s brilliant when he’s fresh. I had said I wasn’t going to run him to make sure he was fresh.
"The tactics were great, it was awesome. I looked in the paddocks before and I thought Politologue was a stand out, and I’m just pleased we stuck to the plan and kept him fresh and fit."
And Skelton himself said: "It was my first ride in the Champion Chase and I owe so much to the family, the Hales.
"I've known them since I was a little kid, I grafted there for a long time and I'm grateful for what John has done for my career.
"They have trained Politologue to perfection. I cannot believe it!"
Earlier today the hot favourite Envoi Allen won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race, 4/1 priced Champ won the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase and Dame de Compagnie came first in the Coral Cup.
