Planet Of Sound made a successful step out of novice company to give Richard Johnson his fourth victory in the William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter.

Although there were no runners of the calibre of Best Mate or Viking Flagship warming up for the season at the Devon course's feature meeting, it was once again standing room only on Haldon Hill.

And the spectators were treated to a thrilling finish as three jumped the final fence locked together.

The complexity of the Grade Two limited handicap saw support in the market for several lesser-known horses with lighter weights and the Philip Hobbs-trained Planet Of Sound, carrying 10st 9lb, was returned the 4-1 favourite.

Third in both the Arkle and at Aintree, the seven-year-old still had a bit to do turning in and only put his head in front over the last as he fought tooth and nail with Mahogany Blaze and the well-backed eventual runner-up Cornas (5-1).

They took control on the short run-in, eventually winning by three and a half lengths while Twist Magic staged a fine comeback to be third under 11st 10lb.

Hobbs said: "My first two runners today ran dreadfully so I am delighted with him.

"Richard has always thought he should go over two and a half miles and looking at that race, he needs to step up.

"I don't know where we go now. We might look at the Peterborough and possibly the big two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at the Cheltenham December meeting."

Planet Of Sound was cut from 33-1 to 14-1 by Stan James for both the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following his win.

Head of PR Charlie McCann said: "Given the modest form of the Hobbs' yard it was a good effort from Planet Of Sound who was arguably unlucky in this year's Arkle Chase.

"We weren't too impressed by the run of Nacarat despite his big-weight and pushed him out to 12s from 10/1 for the William Hill King George VI Chase on Boxing Day."

One of Johnson's previous winners in the race, Ashley Brook, attempted to carve out most of the running with Nacarat but they both weakened as Mahogany Blaze took over.

Nick Williams was delighted with the brave effort of Cornas.

"They went a genuine pace, he has jumped well and had every chance," he said.

"There are not many good two milers at the moment so we might look at the conditions chases."

Twist Magic's trainer Paul Nicholls reflected: "That was a terrific run at the weights and he will go for the Tingle Creek now. On decent ground, he'd have been even closer."