Flagship Uberalles showed guts and determination above and beyond the call of duty when answering every urging of Richard Johnson to land the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham today.
The gelding, a well supported 7-4f, had to use every reserve of energy to battle through unsuitable ground to emulate his half-brother, Viking Flagship, winner of the two mile contest in 1994 and '95.
Edredon Bleu lead from flag fall but started to feel the pace from five out and weakened. Latalomne was left to battle with Cenkos (66-1) for the lead.
Approaching the second last it was Latalomne who travelled well in the lead with Timmy Murphy starting to niggle on Cenkos and Johnson hard at work on Flagship Uberalles.
But the leader failed to rise at the penultimate fence and jockey Vinny Keane's hopes of Cheltenham success were cruely dashed.
Cenkos was left in the lead and looked the likely winner as they turned for home. But he started to tread water in front and going to the last Flagship Uberalles threw down his challenge.
The hill sorted them out and an emotional and exhausted Johnson celebrated as he passed the post three lengths in front.
Irish raider Native Upmanship (9-1) stayed on well from the turn and just got up close home to deny the brave Cenkos by half-a-length for second. The other Irish runner Knife Edge could never get into contention.
Jamie Spencer, one of the brightest young stars on the Flat scene, added a rather unusual string to his bow when landing the Weatherbys Champion Bumper aboard Pizarro (14-1).
Spencer emerged on top from a fantastic duel between himself and Norman Williamson, aboard hot favourite Rhinestone Cowboy (5-2), to give Ireland yet another win in the contest.
Back In Front (12-1) finished three-and-a-half-lengths behind the pair to give trainer Edward O`Grady the first and third.
He may not be quite the class of his illustrious Irish namesake but the Polish-bred Galileo proved a star in his own right when an impressive winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.
A Polish St Leger winner on the flat, the Tom George trained gelding only made his jumping debut 18 days ago, but defied his inexperience to land the 2m5f contest at 12-1.
Over The Bar (14-1) was second while the long-time leader Lanzerac (66-1) stayed on again to push him all the way to the line.
Trainer Tom George, for whom it was a first Cheltenham success, was understandably delighted: "That was very very exciting. We gave him a good cheer when he hit the front."