Sprinter Sacre and Nico de Boinville© Photo Healy Racing
Sprinter Sacre raised the roof by regaining his crown in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Invincible when imperious in this race three years ago, Sprinter Sacre has had a succession of well-documented problems but has been brought back by his trainer Nicky Henderson to be the top two-miler again.
Sprinter Sacre (5-1) surged past a tame Un De Sceaux two out and pulled clear under Nico de Boinville to bring a packed house down at Prestbury Park.
Un De Sceaux, the 4-6 favourite, was still second best, beaten three and a half lengths behind the popular winner after being unable to dominate in his usual manner.
The pace had been set by Special Tiara who was just a nose behind Un De Sceaux in third.
Henderson said: "It's been a long, long journey - t hose were two very, very grim years. That was unbelievable. That was about dreams, wasn't it?"
