The Big Breakaway suffered a shock defeat at the hooves of Bold Plan (7/2) in the Download The tote Placepot App Novices' Chase at Exeter.
The 2/9 favourite never travelled or jumped particularly fluently, a wonderful leap at the final ditch down the back straight apart, and going to the last the eventual winner was in his slipstream.
He jumped to the front over that obstacle and was never going to be beaten from that point, going on to score by a length-and-a-half.
Betfair and Paddy Power pushed the runner-up out to 14/1 (from 8s) for the RSA at Cheltenham and introduced the winner at 33/1 for the Marsh Novices' Chase at the same meeting.
Winning trainer Evan Williams – who quickly followed up with a Grade Two strike at Sandown courtesy of the impressive Star Gate – said of the winner: “We were taking on the second horse on our terms really as I don’t think he’s a two-and-a-half-miler.
“Strictly speaking it was a muddle of a race, but our little fella does have a good turn of foot while the second horse is more of a galloper.
“I don’t really see him as a graded horse, but in saying that he did win a very good handicap at Haydock over hurdles.
“I think with our horse he’s very good on his day, but his days are very in and out is what I’ll say. When he’s good, he’s very good.”