It looked as if Jessica Harrington's Ashdale Bob, himself an outsider, would go close after making all the running but conditional Shane Fitzgerald got Commander Of Fleet up on the line to see off 18/1 chance Fastorslow.
It was a commentator's nightmare as many of the runners were coated in mud over the two miles, five furlongs Grade 3 test that stayed into a staying examination and it was the Gigginstown House Stud eight-year-old that had the stamina where it mattered at a sodden Cheltenham.
Martin Brassil's Fastorslow put up a hell of a race in second with Ashdale Bob just failing to make all in third and Philip Hobbs' Camprond in fourth.
Conditions for the upcoming Queen Mother Champion Chase will be testing with rain continuing to fall at Prestbury Park.
