Galway jockey Paddy Brennan gave Cue Card the ride of his life to win the King George VI Chase at the 9/2 shot's fourth attempt.
Colin Tizzard's nine-year-old will be among the favourites for the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup after seeing off some of the best stayers to win the three-mile feature race at Kempton.
"This is the best day of my life - it's truly unbelievable," said Brennan afterwards. "I won't lie and say that there was a lot more left in the tank, but if anyone can get this horse back to win the Gold Cup, it's going to be Colin Tizzard."
Cue Card's connections won more than £110,000 after beating Irish raiders Vautour and Don Cossack in a dramatic finish.
First Gordon Elliott's favourite, Don Cossack fell at the second last, leaving Willie Mullins' Vautour with a healthy lead heading up the hell to the last.
However Brennan found another gear in Cue Card coming up the straight as Vautour, under Ruby Walsh, faded fatally at the finish.
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