The 11-year-old was a 23-length winner of £165,000 contest last season and while it was much harder work 12 months on, he ultimately refused to be beaten.

Soon bowling along in front, Dan Skelton’s veteran travelled with enthusiasm defying his advancing years throughout the two-mile-six-furlong contest and jumped boldly to put the heat on the chasing pack.

Supporters of the evens favourite will have been concerned when he was joined by Handstands on the approach to the second fence from home, but Protektorat found more once challenged and powered clear on the run-in to beat the staying-on Resplendent Grey by three and three-quarter lengths.

The winning rider, who insisted on returning to the part of the winner’s enclosure that was not in operation on Sunday due to the muddy conditions underfoot, said: “All these people have come here to see him and I wanted them to give him the reception he deserved.

“This is jump racing at it’s best, Protektorat is a warrior and is now a millionaire – he’s broke the £1million barrier there.

“He’s the hardest ride as a jockey I will probably ever have and he’s just hard to handle. He loves running left-handed and he runs with his head on one side. He’s got to go left-handed and can be very keen early on, but he just has the constitution and will to win.

“He’s incredible, so tough and when I jumped three out I knew he would win as he had been in battles before. He’s a year older than last year and 11 now, but he doesn’t know that and he still thinks he is a seven-year-old.”

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Protektorat won the 2024 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was cut to 16-1 from 20-1 to regain the title by Coral.

Skelton added: “Dan is away and I’m not sure what we do now. Ged (Mason, part-owner) is also away and Lisa and Pat (Hales) are probably watching Aston Villa, but I can tell you they will have enjoyed it wherever they are and John Hales will be looking down very proud.

“What this horse has done for our family, for me and Dan and Bridget – she probably had one of the best days she’s had in her riding career on him – he will always be special. And for the owners as well, to have a horse who has won Grade Ones, over £1million in prize-money and keep coming back is incredible.

“Whatever happens, we will always remember Protektorat.”