Jango Baie, who finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, won the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase by a huge 16 lengths from Protektorat.
Jockey Nico de Boinville, who was earlier unseated on Lulamba, recovered to put the Nicky Henderson horse in prime position coming into the home straight.
Paul Townend on Impaire Et Passe was challenging the even-money favourite but fell at the penultimate fence.
De Boinville said to ITV: “All in all, I’m absolutely delighted with him. He’s in great order and put to bed that stat that they go to the Gold Cup and don’t come here.
“It’s all down to the trainer and the team at home. Very special. This will mean a lot.”
In the opening race of the day, the Elliott-trained Mange Tout pipped 9-4 favourite Selma De Vary to win the Juvenile Hurdle.
The 5-1 shot powered over the final hurdle and managed to hold off the efforts of Paul Townend.
Winning jockey Kennedy said the decision to skip the Cheltenham Festival in March “helped”.
It was disappointment for Henderson’s odds-on favourite Lulamba in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase after jockey De Boinville was unseated.
Darragh O’Keefe on Koktail Divin was able to take advantage and power over the line in first place.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead told ITV: “I was starting to get worried for a second but he started to pick up again. It was relentless. They were all jumping so well up front.”
Barton Snow completed the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree double by adding the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase to the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase.
Jockey Henry Crow guided the favourite to a seven-length victory from Lets Go Champ.
