Fourth in the race last year, he was always handy as 2005 winner Hakim made the running in the near two-and-three-quarter-mile test.

Jamie Moore decided to make his move going to two out where Dunbrody Millar went to the front and he was three lengths clear at the final fence.

Theatre Knight gave chase but was never able to mount a serious challenge and Dunbrody Millar stayed on strongly to hold him at bay by six lengths, with Latimer’s Place two and a half lengths away in third.

Bowen was represented by his wife Karen, who said: “Peter is at home, he is driving our National runners up and was not going to leave until all our horses had run today, the journey takes about six hours.

“I was not really disappointed that he did not get in the National, we were not sure if he would get the four and a half miles and this race was tailor-made for him really, he loves it around here.

“He had been wrong this winter, just niggling little problems and he did not have his ground either, but he has blossomed in the past two weeks, he has come to himself and it was a tremendous performance from him.”

Moore missed the Cheltenham Festival because of suspension so this was a welcome change of luck.

Having ridden his second winner for the Bowen team, he said: “Last year I rode him in the Topham because the jockey got injured in the race before it, it’s a funny old game – sometimes you just get lucky.

“It’s a dream (to win over the National fences) and I didn’t think it would ever happen to me. It probably never will again but this is great.”

Graham Wylie, owner of the runner-up Theatre Knight, said: “I’m over the moon. Howard (Johnson, trainer) had said not to expect too much.

“He just lights up at this track and loves the big fences, the plan was to get him jumping and just creep into the vanguard, which is what we did.

“We’ll go away now and try to get him up in the handicap so he may make the big one next year.”

Findon trainer Nick Gifford said of Latimer’s Place: “I’m chuffed to bits with him.

“He actually got outpaced, which we didn’t think would happen as he’s not a slow horse, but it’s great for an 11-year-old to still be in love with the game - I took him out of the Betfred (Gold Cup) so there’s nothing obvious left for him this season.”

Lord Rodney fell and died at The Chair – the cause of death was not certain but it was thought likely he had haemorrhaged and a post mortem will be held.

Espoir Du Bocage, who unseated his rider at the seventh fences was found to be lame and was taken to Leahurst Veterinary Hospital for further examination.

Amateur rider Alan Crowe was taken to hospital for X-rays on a shoulder injury.

End