Best Mate justified the confidence of his connections with victory at 7-1 in the £300,000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup this afternoon.
The seven-year-old, tackling the testing trip of three and a quarter miles for the first time took the blue riband event of steeplechasing by a length and three-quarters from Irish raider Commanche Court (25-1).
See More Business (40-1), the winner in 1999, was eight lengths further back in third.
It was a first Gold Cup triumph for jockey Jim Culloty, trainer Henrietta Knight and owner Jim Lewis an ardent Aston Villa supporter.
"I've always said he was the perfect racehorse so I knew he'd stay three miles plus," Miss Knight said afterwards. "Jim gave him a super ride, always in the right place. He made a mistake at the same fence twice but otherwise it was a magic round."
The trainer who usually cannot bear to see races live, watched the race on television in a private room at the track. She was convinced that Best Mate would stay but not everyone shared her optimism but she was proved right.
Culloty was absolutely delighted afterwards and said: "He's got the engine. I was always cruising, I got squeezed a little bit as Joe's came across me but I wasn't panicking because I didn't want to get there too soon anyway.
"I just wanted to wait until they straightened up and god he's picked up."
Terry Biddlecombe, the trainer's husband, who partnered Woodland Venture to victory in 1967, said: "It's unbelievable. The horse was prepared for this day and Jim rode to orders - he always does. I told him to go to the second last on the inner - the fence is smaller there."
An overwhelmed Lewis said: "I've had some good fun in my day but to win a Gold Cup with a horse so young - I could cry."
Earlier, Looks Like Trouble, the defending champion, had made it a true test as he and See More Business set a punishing pace with Lord Noelie, a stable companion of the winner, and Florida Pearl heading the chasing pack.
There was little change in the order as the race began in earnest on the second circuit. Looks Like Trouble was a spent force four fences from home as See More Business went on, but Best Mate was going ominously well for Culloty on the inside.
Commanche Court also threw down the gauntlet but Best Mate touched down two lengths in front at the last and had enough stamina to hold a former Irish National winner on the punishing climb to the line.
Result of the Cheltenham Gold Cup run over three miles, two and a half furlongs
1. Best Mate 7-1 (ridden by Jim Culloty)
2. Commanche Court 25-1 (Ruby Walsh)
3. See More Business 40-1 (Joe Tizzard)
Winner owned by Jim Lewis, trained by Henrietta Knight in England.