The £91,232 first prize took Hobbs ahead of the retiring Martin Pipe into second place in the trainers' championship but behind winning trainer Paul Nicholls.

The grey was almost brought down when Mr Fluffy fell at the eighth fence, but jockey Richard Johnson made an amazing recovery, and he gradually brought the gelding into contention on the final circuit. And leading over two out, the 10-1 shot beat Eric's Charmby a length and a quarter, with My Will a further head away in third.

One Knight and Eric's Charm took the the 18-strong field along, with Innox a late absentee because of the drying ground.

Lacdoudal was lying handy when he was hit by the falling Mr Fluffy, while up front One Knight, also trained by Hobbs, lost the lead when making a mistake at the 12th fence. You're Special, the 7-1 favourite, came down at the 15th, with One Knight following him at the next.

That left Eric's Charm in front, but Lacdoudal joined the leader three out and soon powered into the lead and stayed on well to give the Hobbs team their first and only success of the day.

"I thought he was a bit brave going on when he did but he stayed on very well, " Hobbs said. "I suppose we have to think about the Grand National for him. He's the sort of horse that might do the job. Even though he is tiny he has always jumped particularly well."

The old rule of backing the outsider in a field of three or four proved spot on in the Betfred Celebration Chase earlier in the day when River City trumped favourite Nyrche for the Noel Chance/Tom Doyle combination.

Nyrche looked in control at the Pond fence, three out, where Contraband was making his move but Doyle had everything covered on River City, who grappled the lead touching down after the last and forged clear.

River City was travelling well in this season's Queen Mother Chase at Cheltenham when, according to his trainer, he overjumped and this was deserved compensation for that disappointment.

Rob Roy justified favouritism when making a winning seasonal debut in the betfred. com Mile on the same card. The 6-4 favourite wore down long-time leader Kings Point two furlongs out and stayed on doggedly in the hands of Mick Kinane.

Michael Stoute's charge got home by a length from Babodana, with another length and a quarter to Kings Point, who just held Democratic Deficit for third.