The Real Whacker produced a tremendous display from the front to land the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Winner of the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago, not everything went as trainer Patrick Neville would have hoped last season, including when pulled up in the Gold Cup.
He returned for this campaign in the Kerry National at Listowel in September, where he had the misfortune of unseating Sam Twiston-Davies.
Immediately disputing matters in front with Conflated on this occasion, he eventually took the outright lead, giving a bold sight under Brian Hughes, who was riding the eight-year-old for the first time.
Former winner and runner-up Bravemansgame was the 11-10 market leader to regain his crown and loomed up ominously for Harry Cobden.
But The Real Whacker (5-1) continued to jump away and ultimately saw off the favourite, with another fine leap at the last sealing matters.