Young pretender Looks Like Trouble gave Noel Chance his second Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in four years when storming up the hill to land the spoils today.
Chance's gelding had to pull out all the stops after the last to repel Florida Pearl by five lengths and join former stable-mate Mister Mulligan in the history books.
But the race ended in tragedy for the connections of Gloria Victis when he had to be destroyed following his fall at the second last.
The exciting novice suffered an fracture to his cannon-bone at the penultimate obstacle which the vets were unable to treat.
The ground had proved perfect for the winner, who had claimed the SunAlliance over a furlong and a half less last year, and he was settled in behind the leaders by Richard Johnson as Gloria Victis lead them.
Gloria Victis' tendency to jump out to the right continually lost him ground but he got back to the lead each time as See More Business kept him company.
The race started to unfold five from home as Looks Like Trouble jumped up to join Gloria Victis and See More Business .
Florida Pearl crept into the picture and it was left to Looks Like Trouble, Gloria Victis and Florida Pearl to battle it out from three out as See More Business started to struggle.
Turning for home Looks Like Trouble held the advantage with Florida Pearl chasing and Gloria Victis in third.
The three approached the second last within a length of each other but Gloria Victis took a crashing fall leaving and Florida Pearl blundered leaving Looks Like Trouble with the advantage.
Paul Carberry got a tremendous response from Florida Pearl, who was not found wanting for guts, but the pair could not match the stamina of the winner who jumped the last a length to the good and stretched his advantage to five on the run in.
Florida Pearl had to keep going all the way to the line as Strong Promise stayed on from well back to snatch third place from the staying on See More Business with Lake Kariba also running a cracker to finish a close fifth.
'This is fabulous. Jumping won him the day today' said a delighted Johnson on the walk back to the parade ring.
The jockey had only come in for the ride last week after a much publicised sacking of Norman Williamson by owner Tim Collins.
Trainer Noel Chance, who only had 11 horses in the yard when Looks Like Trouble won the SunAlliance last year, was full of praise for the winner.
'He's proved himself today. He has a great cruising speed and jumps well, although he did make a few fiddly errors.'
'He has always showed us he was very good. It's great to have a good horse. It's just a question of getting him fit, keeping him safe and sound and pointing him in the right direction.'
'I would say his run in the King George was down to the ground. He proved today that he wants better ground.'
'We'll play it by ear with him. I'm not sure where he'll go next but we thought about the Martell Cup at Aintree.
'He didn't have as hard a race here as he did in the SunAlliance last year and Liverpool is on the agenda but he'll tell us.'
Willie Mullins was sporting in defeat and paid tribute to Noel Chance's handling of the winner.
'Florida Pearl has run a marvellous race and maybe it will be 3, 2, 1 for him next year. He has done absolutely nothing wrong and full marks to Noel for what he has done with the winner.
'My fellow is a good horse and he certainly stays this trip, I said earlier in the week that if de did not win it would be becuase he wasn't good enough, not because he didn't stay.
'He has been in flying form all this week and we really thought he would run a big race, which he did. Paul was very happy with him and I hope he gets back here next year. We may take him to Punchestown next.'
Paul Nicholls was far from disappointed with the display of See More Business.
'Mick (Fitzgerald) said the same as Joe (Tizzard) yesterday, that the ground is just fast enough for him.
'I also think that they did not go fast enough for him. Stamina is his forte and on the first circuit they did not go a great gallop. When they quickened up the second time round he was a bit outpaced, and if you're off the bit at the top of the hill, as he was, then you are in trouble.'
'Mick said that he did not come down the hill that well either time, but he was staying on well at the end. I hope we shall be able to bring him back next year.'
Chris Kinane was delighted with the third place of Strong Promise :- 'This is his ground and ?Chocolate' (Richard Thornton) said he was a different horse on it.'
HOW THEY FINISHED
1st Looks Like Trouble
2nd Florida Pearl (5L)
3rd Strong Promise (nk)
4th See More Business (nk)
5th Lake Kariba (nk)
6th Dorans Pride (dist)
Pulled up Ever Blessed
Pulled up Go Ballistic
Pulled up The Last Fling
Unseated rider Rince Ri
Unseated rider Tullymurry Toff
Fell Gloria Victis
Winner's time 6:30.30 (course record)
12 Ran
