Fondmort landed a popular ante-post gamble in the Stg100,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup with a handsome victory under man-of-the-moment Mick Fitzgerald.
Having become just the ninth jockey to partner 1,000 winners over jumps in Britain at Sandown seven days earlier, the 33-year-old Irishman is riding full of confidence.
And Fondmort always travelled sweetly as Ei Ei cut out the running at a good pace.
Last year's second Poliantas went on four out, but after jumping the penultimate fence Fondmort took control and, running on strongly, the 3-1 favourite won unchallenged.
Poliantas (7-2) kept on to finish second for the second successive year with Ei Ei a gallant third at 33-1.
Fondmort's eight-length success gave trainer Nicky Henderson his first victory in the historic race.
But the contest had a tragic aftermath when the runner-up collapsed as he returned to the unsaddling area and died of a heart attack.
For some 15 minutes Fondmort was prevented from returning to his deserved hero's welcome in the winner's circle as his path was blocked as vets fought to resuscitate Poliantas. But even the sadness felt around the racecourse could not overshadow a first-class performance by the improving Fondmort.
After greeting his winner, Henderson said: "Mick said he took a blow just after the second-last.
"The horse has done everything absolutely right today. It was the perfect round by the horse, with the perfect jockey doing the job. We've all had a difficult autumn trying to get them ready but he has been working very, very well."
Fondmort could now bid to repeat last year's victory in the Tripleprint Gold Cup back at Cheltenham next month.
Henderson continued: "I suppose it's all up to what the handicapper is going to do. He loves it round here. The obvious thing is the Tripleprint again.