Best Mate pipped Seebald in a thrilling finish to the William Hill Chase at Exeter today.
The nine-year-old, sent off the 4-7 favourite, had to fight a much harder race than expected on his first run since winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March for the third successive year.
Seebald stuck with Best Mate, ridden for the first time by Irishman Timmy Murphy, from the last two fences and only went down by a short head.
Sir Rembrandt, runner-up in last season's Gold Cup, set the pace with Best Mate settled nicely in second place, with Seebald third and Frenchman's Creek held up last of the four runners.
The order remained unchanged until after the ninth fence, an open ditch, at which Sir Rembrandt made a mistake.
Murphy took this error as a signal to send Best Mate into the lead, but Tom Scudamore on Seebald seemed unmoved.
Although Sir Rembrandt was a spent force some way out, Best Mate could not shake off Martin Pipe's runner.
There was little to choose between the pair at the second-last and Murphy had to call on all Best Mate's reserves to hold the nine-year-old in a desperately close finish.
Frenchman's Creek, having his first start since April 2002, was 16 lengths away in third.
Best Mate has now won 14 of his 20 starts and finished second in the other six.
PA