Saint Are showed plenty of resoultion to fend off Battle Group in the John Smith's Handicap Chase at Aintree.
The Liverpool specialist (11-1), ridden by Dougie Costello, has now won two of his three starts at the track and was providing trainer Tim Vaughan with his 100th winner of the season.
David Pipe's runner-up (6-1) was slightly impeded by the winner before the final fence but jumped it well under Tom Scudamore and actually poked his head in-front before finding his rival too strong.
Favourite Chapoturgeon (2-1), ridden by Paddy Brennan following the injury to Ruby Walsh in the previous race, stayed on for third but never looked like winning.
Costello said: "He's very tough. Tim's horses haven't been right through the middle of the year and because of that, he probably is well handicapped.
"He jumps and stays. It's a stayers' track here as it's four furlongs from the bend.
"We went a good strong gallop and a big horse like this is suited by a flat, left-handed track like this."
Vaughan said: "Thankfully he's come good.
"He ran well here on his chasing debut and then after that we went to Cheltenham with him a few times and I just don't think that track suits.
"He loves a flat, left-handed galloping track. He's run here three times now, winning twice and finishing second.
"I knew today off a mark of 137 he was a very well handicapped horse. There was no question about that as he won a Grade One here last year.
"He looked a natural fencer on his first run and we just lost our way a bit. I didn't know if he'd be able to bounce back on the big stage, but thank God he did."
