Odds-on favourite Grey Dawning swept past two-time winner Royale Pagaille to triumph in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.
Eleven-year-old veteran Royale Pagaille won the race for the past two years but was not fancied and was priced out at 18-1 as the field of five set off for the first domestic Grade One race of the season.
Royale Pagaille led until the final fence, when Grey Dawning came through to win and reverse the result from 12 months ago.
Winning jockey Harry Skelton told ITV Sport: “It has taken him 365 days to convince everyone what he can do. This was his day – he was brilliant.”
The race is traditionally seen as one for Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders, but Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs struggled to jump throughout and was pulled up from last.
Stellar Story was third ahead of Handstands.
Earlier, Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man won the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase.
Former West Ham and Bournemouth manager Redknapp said: “That was nerve-wracking. I relate everything to football, but that was like sitting on the touchline with 10 minutes to go, hanging on to a lead.”