The reigning two-mile champion chaser made a blunder in the home straight, but otherwise jumped superbly.

He justified odds of 10-11 to leave Geos (6-1) trailing in second by four lengths.

Young Spartacus finished a distant third, with Charlie Hall Chase runner-up Sleeping Night a very disappointing last of four.

The win provided a triumphant end to a tragic week for trainer Henrietta Knight, whose mother died on Wednesday

Norman Williamson landed the plum spare ride on favourite Edredon Bleu.

Jim Culloty, trainer Henrietta Knight's number one jockey, was chosen to ride the stable's rising star Best Mate in the First National Gold Cup at Ascot.

But there was to be no double success for Knight, Culloty and owner Jim Lewis.

Best Mate, also an odds-on favourite, was surprisingly beaten by 4-1 chance Wahiba Sands, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy.

Edredon Bleu, winner of the 2000 Queen Mother Champion Chase, is now likely to head straight for Cheltenham in March to defend his title.

Williamson, pipped by Edredon Bleu when riding Direct Route in the Champion Chase, said: "Now I know why he is so hard to beat.

"I thought turning in he was going to stop and then he missed out the second-last. But when he saw the last, he took off again."

Afterwards, Edredon Bleu was made 2-1 favourite for the Queen Mother (from 7-2) by bookmakers Ladbrokes.

Miss Knight said: "He will now go straight to Cheltenham."

King George VI Chase entry Sleeping Night was disappointing after chasing home Sackville at Wetherby.

But trainer Mary Reveley said: "It was probably too fast for him.

"He'll probably run over Christmas but the King George is on the same sort of track, so he could go for the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown."