Voy Por Ustedes (left) - took the Arkle.

But the progressive five-year-old had a fight on his hands to get the better of Monet's Garden by one and a quarter lengths.

Monet's Garden had been up with the pace before taking over going out into the country for the final time, with Voy Por Ustedes stalking the leaders under Robert 'Chocolate' Thornton.

Ireland's main hope, Accordion Etoile, came to grief at the eighth fence and soon after Monet's Garden and the eventual winner went clear.

Voy Por Ustedes (15-2) took over after two out but Nicky Richards' charge (8-1) would not go away and the result could not be called with confidence at the last where neither of the principals was particularly fluent.

But up the hill it was King's runner who maintained his advantage and he held on for a famous victory. Foreman (5-1) was five lengths back in third.

The win earned Voy Por Ustedes quotes ranging from a general 8-1 to a more generous 14-1 with bet365 for next year's Queen Mother Champion Chase, which will be his long-term target.

While the runner-up was priced at 16-1 by Coral and 10-1 with the sponsors for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

"I've always wanted a good two-miler because when I was with David Nicholson we had plenty of them and this is the first proper two-miler I've had," the Barbury Castle handler said.

King was keen to praise jockey Gino Carenza, who has done a lot of work with Voy Por Ustedes at home.

He said: "A lot of credit has to go to my conditional Gino Carenza, he rides him at home every day. This horse is difficult and very volatile at home and Gino does a super job with him."

There are no immediate plans for the ex-French gelding and King continued: "We'll see how he comes out of it and if he did run again you'd look at Aintree.

"I'd be perfectly happy if that was it for the season but we'll just enjoy today.

"Hopefully we'll come back here for the Queen Mother next year."

Beforehand King had nominated Monet's Garden as the main threat.

He said: "I said to 'Chocolate' (Thornton) your danger is the grey horse and he said he won't be quick enough and the first thing he said to me when he came back in was 'I told you he wouldn't be quick enough' but they've pulled clear like two good novices and luckily we had the right one.

"His jumping helps. He came from Guillaume Macaire and they can always jump when they come from that man.

"He's not a big horse but he's got so much scope and has progressed all season. It looked a very strong Arkle and it was this lad's biggest test and he's come through it.

"Touch wood he's always been a very sound horse, the only trouble is his mind because he can just get a bit volatile occasionally."

Thornton added: "He was always very good and travelled real well. He's not such a quick horse between his fences but his jumping always gets him a length.

"He missed the one between the two ditches and it has just given him quite a nudge and he's taken a blow and then after the next ditch running down the hill he was running away with me.

"He's obviously very good. I schooled him the other morning and he felt a million dollars he would be one of the best I've ridden.

"He certainly felt like a Champion Chase horse today."

Richards was delighted with the performance of the runner-up.

He said: "We thought if he could get out and get into a rhythm he would give a few of them something to think about as he's a very good jumper.

"In the end he has just found one too good but he's run a good race and I'm proud of him.

"I doubt if he'll go to Aintree but I might take him to Ayr for a three-mile novices' chase to end the season on a high. He wants three miles.

"If he was to come back here next year it wouldn't be for the Champion Chase it would more likely be the Ryanair Chase."

Thierry Doumen, trainer of Foreman, said: "He's run a great race first time over the Cheltenham fences and he never lost any ground.

"The two horses that made the running never gave up but he was the only one to stay on and he ran a very good race.

"We will have to see how he is when we get him home but I think we will seriously have to consider Aintree."

The Henrietta Knight-trained Racing Demon was sent off the 9-2 favourite but he was never travelling and finished seventh.

Knight said: "Sam (Thomas) got off and said he felt like he was an out-and-out galloper. He was just getting going when the others were finished.

"His jumping wasn't a problem, he just didn't have the speed for them.

"If he is OK tomorrow, I will think about running him again this season - he would need the ground to be suitable but he's not had a hard campaign.

"He'll never be another Best Mate but is a good horse for the future."