Racing: Kauto Star proved connections right by repeating last year's win in the William Hill - Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Despite dropping down a mile in trip after his brilliant win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the six-year-old showed he had lost none of his dash for the shorter distance.
Leading a long way out after Dempsey fell at one of the Railway Fences, the 4-9 shot, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, stormed to victory by seven lengths from Voy Por Ustedes, with another seven lengths back in Oneway third.
Dempsey took the field along from Central House, with Kauto Star handy just behind the leaders.
However, the leader gave Andrew Tinkler a nasty tumble when coming down at the sixth-last fence, hampering both Hoo La Baloo and Central House.
That left Kauto Star in front as Walsh decided to make the most of his proven stamina.
Only Voy Por Ustedes, last year's Arkle winner, offered any kind of challenge to Kauto Star who, despite a slight mistake at the second-last fence, galloped on strongly up the hill to score in tremendous style.
VC Bet make Kauto Star 4-6 for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day and 5-2 (from 7-2) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A delighted Nicholls said: "He'd have looked silly staying in his box today, wouldn't he?
"I must admit I've never felt pressure like this the last few days. People have been coming up to me saying you're brave or you're doing something stupid, but I wouldn't have been running him if I had half an excuse," the champion trainer told Channel 4 Racing.
"Look at him, he's hardly blowing. He's as happy as Larry and the King George is three weeks away.
"He's not the kind of horse that needs lots of work. You can keep him fresh and keep him ticking over. My head lad rides him every day. He knows the time of day and he never had any doubt about it.
"You don't buy horses to leave them in their box, that's why we've had plenty of winners. God willing if he's all right, it will be the King George next. If everything's right he'll be there and if he's not, he won't be."