Jair Du Cochet upset hot favourite Best Mate in the Tote Peterborough Chase beating the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner with ease at Huntingdon today.
Jacques Ricou always had the French six-year-old up with the pace which was only steady and Guillaume Macaire's charge stretched clear in the straight to score by eight lengths at 100-30.
Best Mate, the 8-13 favourite, was one and three-quarter lengths ahead of third-placed Valley Henry.
Best Mate, winner of the race 12 months ago, did not jump with his usual fluency and the writing was on the wall jumping the third last as Jair Du Cochet began to apply the pressure.
Jair Du Cochet clearly relished the soft ground and is now on course for a rematch with Best Mate in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
"The King George is next," said Macaire.
