Chief Dan George stood firm in the face of a late charge from The Package to emerge victorious in the William Hill Trophy.
The Package comes up just short in straight
Chief Dan George stood firm in the face of a late charge from The Package to emerge victorious in the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham.
The 10-year-old tracked Ogee into the straight and, having jumped the last just behind his rival, it as if the duo would battle it out.
But having forced his way past Ogee, Jimmy Moffat's charge came under sustained attack from The Package who hit the afterburners in the final 100 yards.
But despite closing right up on the leader he left it a fraction too late and Chief Dan George clung on to win a by a head.
The much-fancied Bensalem travelled in imperious style for much of the race, but suffered a crashing fall just as he was beginning to make his move at the second from home.
Delighted winning jockey Paddy Aspell said: "He battled and it's all down to the horse.
"Jimmy said if he got in behind horses, he would look after number one but I've asked him questions I shouldn't have been asking him and he's proved it.
"In the back of my mind (I thought I'd won) but you prefer the boss upstairs to tell you.
"It's way up there (in my career achievements). Apart from this, I think my biggest win was something daft like the Scottish County Hurdle.
"I'm a journeyman but days like these, words just can't get it over."
Moffatt added: "When he ran round here over hurdles, it was to put him right because we had been held up with the frost.
"I wasn't surprised at all because he's a good horse but I never thought he was a back number as he's a Grade One winner over hurdles.
"Right now I've got a rush through my system like you wouldn't believe."
