My Will took a surprise win (Getty Images).

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Fundamentalist's billing as a steeplechasing star of the future is back on hold again after his usually-fluent jumping went to pieces at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Odds-on to return to winning form in the Unicoin Homes 'Dipper' Novices' Chase after an unlucky defeat at Newbury on his previous start, Fundamentalist again cost his backers.

In fact only two of the five starters managed to complete the course, but it was nevertheless an exciting finish with My Will proving just too strong for El Vaquero up the hill.

Early leader See You Sometime fell at the third and then Fundamentalist, sent off the 4-7 favourite, got in low and made a terrible mess at the open ditch in the back straight, seven from home.

He unseated Carl Llewellyn, to the groans of his supporters in the stands.

With rank outsider Tom Nail pulled up when well in rear, El Vaquero was left in the lead, tracked by My Will.

The latter soon moved up to challenge and they jumped the last three fences locked together, but it was My Will (4-1) who found the better turn of foot on the run-in to score by four lengths.

He was landing the middle leg of a 329-1 treble for trainer Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.

Nicholls said of My Will, who was second to See You Sometime at Windsor a fortnight ago: "He had a hard race there and I was worried about running him here, but we didn't have anything to lose by giving it a go.

"He'll have a break now and we'll look for something at Cheltenham, but it won't be the Arkle as he wants further than two miles.

"Two miles just wasn't enough for him when we were beaten here by Fundamentalist earlier in the season and anyway he coughed after that, so we just put a line through the run and decided not to be afraid of taking him on again."

Fundamentalist was pushed out to 6-1 in the betting for the Arkle Trophy by Coral, totesport and William Hill, but realistically could still end up in any one of half a dozen races at the Festival - if he makes it there at all.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "For some reason he just didn't have a cut, which is very unlike him. It's just one of those things I suppose.

"We'll have a think and then look for another run to get this out of the way as soon as possible."