However, Sam Twiston-Davies conjured a tremendous run out of the 10-1 winner to land the first major handicap of the season by a head.

“I’ve got a lot of apologising to do as I told Paul not to run him, but he travelled and jumped – we rode him very differently,” said Twiston-Davies.

“We just let him jump away, but it was impossible to get closer without expending too much energy by going wide. In fairness he really picked up after the last.

“It’s only his fourth run over fences. It’s a brilliant training performance.”

Present View, the 5-1 favourite, was third and Oscar Whisky fourth.

In the testing conditions, the pace, set by Present View, was not strong.

There were plenty in with chances coming down the hill, but the market leader still appeared to be going as well as anything.

Everything changed after the second-last, when Johns Spirit loomed up and took over approaching the final fence, looking set for the history books.

Caid Du Berlais (10-1) found another gear, though, to deny Johns Spirit a rare double.

Nicholls said: “I knew the horse was very well as he looked amazing, Sam has ridden him brilliantly.

“I put a tongue tie on as I thought soft ground has stopped him before.

“When they are well things like this happen, I thought he had a chance at the last.

“I told Sam to follow Richie, see what happens, and that is what he did.

“It’s great for Sam, two big winners on a Saturday. He doesn’t panic and gets horses running for him.”

O'Neill said of the brave runner-up: ``He ran a blinder and the weight beat him in the end

“Richie gave him a great ride. He was a bit keen early, they didn’t go as fast as normal, but I’m proud of the horse and jockey.

“It’s hard to get nicked on the line, but that’s Cheltenham.

“He could be a championship horse now. It (Ryanair) could be (his race).”

Trainer Jamie Snowden said of Present View: “He ran brilliantly, it was just the ground. It just blunted his natural enthusiasm.”