Trainer Paul Nicholls, owner Clive Smith and jockey Tony McCoy looked to have the Grade Two event in the bag for much of the way with the 4-5 favourite, and he even jumped the final fence with a clear advantage.
Robert Thornton asked everything of recent Warwick winner Araldur in the closing stages and the 11-4 chance responded to his urgings to claw back the deficit up the run-in and deny the favourite by a neck.
Winning trainer Alan King said: "I thought he was flattered at Warwick and he isn't a two-miler. The further he goes the better he will be and he has a grand attitude to it all.
"I don't think you'll see him until after Christmas now and it will no surprise if you see him next over two and a half miles.
"If someone had told me a month ago he would win the Henry VIII I would have thought they were mad! It is a race I have always loved though, and I love two milers too."
The winner is as low as 12-1 for the Arkle, but King added: "I don't see him as an Arkle horse. The way the ground normally is in March he will be run off his feet."
Although losing out by a short head, McCoy went on to complete a near 196-1 four-timer headlined by Master Minded's win in the Seasons Holidays-sponsored feature.
Spree
After a similar feat last weekend on Hennessy day, he kicked off his winning spree as Clay Hollister bounced back from a 651-day lay-off in the Sodexo Prestige "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's 9-4 favourite, who had his bumper career curtailed due to 'the thumps' and his comeback delayed due to knee problems, quickened away stylishly under the champion jockey for a 13-length success.
Henderson said: "I thought he could have been Cheltenham Bumper material before getting the thumps, which is a calcium deficiency.
"He isn't very big but jumped well and if is knees are OK tomorrow we can go on from there."
McCoy also took the Best Odds Guaranteed At betinternet.com Handicap Hurdle for his governor JP McManus aboard 9-2 joint favourite Sunnyhillboy, and completed his four-timer in the marathon betinternet.com London National Handicap Chase as Kilbeggan Blade (6-1) repeated his win of 12 months ago.
Mister Gloss' chasing career has been put on hold and at the third attempt back over timber the 12-1 chance clicked in the Sign Up Bonus At betinternet.com Handicap Hurdle under Tom O'Brien.
Trainer Philip Hobbs' wife Sarah said: "He didn't take to fences and jumped badly over them last time at Cheltenham, so Richard Johnson suggested going back to hurdles.
"He has won well here and jumped so I am delighted."
The Tingle Creek day crowd stood at just under 12,000, which, despite the economic climate, was almost 3,000 up on last year.
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