The 10-1 shot was given a patient ride by Paul Moloney and took the lead with a spectacular jump at the third-last.

Most of the 16-strong field were still in contention at the home turn but the final furlongs of the three mile, two and a half furlongs race found them out and only six finished.

Juveigneur, with Mick Fitzgerald up, battled on for second with long-time leader Preacher Boy holding on gamely for third.

State of Play had been the ante-post favourite when the weights came out three weeks ago but had drifted out in the market since then.

Montgermont, at 9-2, and Turpin Green, at 5-1, were the two favourites for the race but both disappointed.

Vodka Bleu, a 15-2 shot, was going well coming into the home straight but ran out of steam.

Earlier, Inglis Drever stated his case for the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when successfully returning from a 333-day absence in the VC Casino. com Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

Having injured himself in a fall in a Grade One hurdle at Chepstow last December, the seven-year-old came back under Tony Dobbin having given pleasing signals to trainer Howard Johnson in his work on the beach.

In what looked like being a four-cornered battle two from home, by the final flight the contest rested between Inglis Drever and Irish Wolf but it was the former who pulled out more on the run-in to earn quotes ranging from 51 (Ladbrokes, William Hill and Blue Square) to 6-1 (Stan James) for the staying championship next March.

Owner Graham Wylie revealed the gelding will not be seen often before that race, which he won in great style in 2005.

He said of the 15-8 favourite: "It's always a worry when a horse is coming back from an injury, but two or three weeks ago he started giving us the right signals.

"We took him to the beach and he worked really well, but we couldn't be sure how straight he was.

"The race was run to suit as they didn't go very quick. I think we'll keep him lightly raced with the World Hurdle the big objective, " added Wylie.

The remainder of the supporting card belonged mainly to Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh, who completed a magnificent treble with Silverburn, Opera Mundi and Saintsaire.

The latter did not look over-impressive in beating Tagula Blue two lengths in the BGC Novices' Hurdle, but was cut to 20-1 from 25s for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle by Stan James, was introduced at 20s by Blue Square and is unchanged at 33s with William Hill.

Opera Mundi (13-8) pulverised his rivals in the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Novices' Handicap Chase, revelling in the testing conditions and storming 22 lengths clear of Petitjean.

Meanwhile at Newcastle, Straw Bear emerged as a genuine Champion Hurdle contender with a smooth success in the Grade One wbx. com 'Fighting Fifth' Hurdle.

Nick Gifford's five-year-old was just touched off in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season but looks to have improved in the interim as Tony McCoy never had an anxious moment on board the heavily-backed evenmoney favourite, who scored by five lengths.

Race regular The French Furze (66-1) took the field along and despite his advancing years, was just touched off for second by Noble Request (9-2).

William Hill were suitably impressed with Straw Bear to make him Straw Bear 11-2 (from 12-1) for the hurdling crown.