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Best Mate was in a good position throughout the race as Sir Rembrandt made much of the early running but the horse who finished second to Best Mate at Cheltenham last March faded badly as the race went on.

It was left to the Martin Pipe-trained Seebald, ridden by Tom Scudamore to challenge Best Mate, ridden by Timmy Murphy for the first time in the absence of the injured Jim Culloty.

Seebald proved a tough prospect and the pair pulled away with about three fences to go and jumped the last two fences together.

Seebald pulled ahead on the run-in but Best Mate, who was sent off the 4-7 favourite, dug deep to get up on the line and claim the narrowest of successes in what was a tougher race than had been anticipated.

Frenchman's Creek, having his first start since April 2002, was 16 lengths away in third.

I watched the race from some bushes, so I can't really say how I felt the race went Trainer Henrietta Knight

The victory means that the Henrietta Knight-trained nine-year-old is now a best-priced 11-4 to win a fourth Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Despite the narrow finish, Knight admitted afterwards that she was satisfied with Best Mate's display.

"Timmy said that it was a tricky race to ride in and the ground was riding a bit sticky," she said.

"But the horse is tough and didn't do too much wrong and it was a very good performance, especially in his first run of the season."

Owner Jim Lewis confessed that he wasn't sure if his horse had emerged victorious in the photo-finish but praised his fighting spirit.

"He has never done anything more than he has to and he'll give it when he knows he has to give it.

"It's a wonderful experience being here with so many people who have come to see my horse, and I'm so pleased we got the result everybody wanted."

William Hill Chase 2m 7�f

1. Best Mate (TJ Murphy) 4-7 Fav
2. Seebald (T Scudamore) 12-1
4 ran. Dist: sh-hd