Politologue (11/8 favourite) ran and jumped his rivals ragged to win a second Betfair Tingle Creek chase at Sandown.
Passing the bypassed Pond Fence stablemate Greanateen looked a big danger to the leader but despite getting into the bottom of the second last, the reigning champion chaser soon had his measure.
He was great over the last and bounded up the hill to score by seven lengths and give Paul Nicholls a remarkable 11th win in the Grade One contest.
"That was unbelievable," beamed winning rider Harry Skelton. "I've been wanting to win this one for a while now.
"It's a joy to ride a horse like this. He's been in many a dogfight and come out on top and he's done it again. Paul and the team were telling me he was in great form and when I sat on him he felt like a six-year-old."
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Nicholls said: “It was a good performance. We were fairly confident we had him well. He had his issues and we completely changed the way we trained him. He was very well in the Champion Chase and he didn’t just win that because the race fell apart, we actually felt we had him better and we felt we had him better today.
“He is a little bit like Kauto (Star) was in his last year in that he was probably as good as ever. He is probably as good as he has ever been. That is what we were really hoping for and expecting today, that he was going to do that.
“The other horse, Greaneteen, has run well – he just lacked a bit of class he (Politologue) has got. Two Tingle Creeks and a Champion Chase, his CV is pretty good. To keep winning those races they have got to have resolution, stay sound and keep coming back for more and he has got all of that.
“He might not be a Master Minded or Sprinter Sacre, but he is tough and keeps winning and that is what you want in this game. He is a horse the crowd loves.
“That often (happens not getting the credit he deserves) – if Altior had run today and he had beaten Altior he would probably have got a lot more credit than he deserves as people will now crab the race – but you can only win what you are up against.
“We were looking forward to taking on Altior today as the last time they met there was a length and a half between them in the Champion Chase and we think we have got the horse a lot better now and as good as ever, so it would have been an interesting race, but Nicky decided not to run and he will go elsewhere. All you can do is win on the day and he did it well again.”
Looking to future plans, Nicholls said: “The only option I would give us before Cheltenham, if he comes out of the race OK, is go to Ascot for the Clarence House. It will either be straight to Cheltenham or go to Ascot for the Clarence House before.
“I said to John he is in the form of his life and I think if he is fit and well the Clarence House might be a possibility and then go to Cheltenham. He is not getting any younger, it’s a Grade One and then he has got a nice time before Cheltenham.”
Betfair and Paddy Power now make the winner a 6/1 chance to retain his crown in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Sky Bet are 8s from 20s.
Their Head of Sports PR Michael Shinners said: "That was a fantastic performance from Politologue who jumped his rivals into submission. He once again showed he’s a class act and clearly is a big player again at Cheltenham."
