The Skelton juggernaut rolled on as Nube Negra turned over Altior in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.
Never at any stage did the winner look in trouble, travelling on the bridle and sauntering to the front between the last two fences.
In contrast, Nico De Boinville had been hard at work on Altior who was laboured at several fences and was a gear short of the winner.
He plugged on for second but was never going to get close to the 20/1 winner who was eased down to win by three-and-a-half lengths.
"He was brilliant," said winning rider Harry Skelton. "He travelled and jumped with a lot of zest and he's done it in a canter on ground that is probably slow enough for him. We wanted to run him at Aintree last year and didn't get the chance and all that time he's had has probably done him the world of good.
"He's only six and was very impressive today. "
Nicky Henderson said of Altior: "I'd be very surprised if that was the end. It wasn't the result anybody expected really but he wasn't really travelling within himself.
"I don't think that's a knock-out blow, it was his first run for a long time and he's bound to sharpen up for it and come on for it and something like the Game Spirit is going to have to be the ultimate test to see where we go."
De Boinville added: "Obviously we're disappointed but the main thing is the horse is back safe and sound. Fingers crossed he's OK in the morning.
"I was in trouble from a long way out but we didn't accept our fate and he's gone out fighting but I thought we probably had a hard enough race there."
Sky Bet cut the winner to 14/1 from 66/1 for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and pushed Altior out to 8/1. Betfair and Paddy Power make both the winner and runner-up 12/1 for the Cheltenham feature.
Sky Bet Head of Sports PR Michael Shinners said: "The Skelton team have had a brilliant Christmas and Nube Negra was another winner for the team. He travelled supremely well throughout the race and is now 14/1 from 66/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We have eased Altior out to 8/1 from 5/1 for the same race after an ultimately disappointing run."
