Sprinter Sacre produced a stunning display to floor Un De Sceaux and win the Queen Mother Champion Chase for a second time.
The winner of the race three years ago had appeared set for retirement when pulling up in the contest 12 months ago, but Sprinter Sacre rolled back the years to a rapturous reception at the Cheltenham Festival.
Confidently ridden by Nico de Boinville, Sprinter Scare took it up turning into the home straight and he had too much firepower for Un De Sceaux and Special Tiara.
The early battle for the lead was won by Special Tiara as he beat Un De Sceaux to the first fence, where Sizing Granite made a serious mistake from which he never recovered.
Un De Sceaux’s stablemate Felix Yonger was unable to keep up with the pace in the 2m contest as Sprinter Sacre, along with fellow former previous winners Dodging Bullets and Sire De Grugy, sat a few lengths off the pace.
A mighty leap from Sprinter Sacre at the ditch at the top of the hill drew gasps from the crowd as Ruby Walsh took over on Un De Sceaux coming down the hill to the third last.
De Boinville briefly had to push Sprinter Sacre along to close on the run to three out, but he was quickly back on the bridle and brushed aside Un De Sceaux coming round the bend.
Kicked clear, Sprinter Sacre was slick over the second last and scrappy at the final fence before staying on stoutly up the hill to record a famous win for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Un De Sceaux just got back up on the line to nail Special Tiara for second, but the race was all about comeback king Sprinter Sacre.
