ONE MAN left his admirers more bewildered than ever after his trial over two and a half miles ended in a shock beating at the hands of a novice yesterday. He suffered only his third defeat in completed chases and his first away from Cheltenham as he fell victim to the three years younger Strong Promise in the Comet Chase at Ascot.

An exercise designed to determine the grey's Festival options provided no positive clues for owner John Hales and trainer Gordon Richards. But it has probably ruled him out of the Champion Chase, with the bookmakers only prepared to quote him for the Gold Cup.

Ladbrokes now offer him at 10 to 1 with a run in their Gold Cup list. He is also 10 to 1 with Coral while William Hill leave their price unchanged at 8 to l. Strong Promise, who could contest the Cathcart Chase, is now 5 to 1 third favourite (from 25-1) for the Champion Chase.

Richards had expected an exhibition round from Britain's number one chaser in a race billed as a match between One Man and last year's winner Sound Man.

But with the Irish challenger struggling to keep pace because of a succession of errors, it was Strong Promise who emerged as the main threat to One Man.

One Man had beaten his rival out of sight in the King George, but with his usual extravagance missing, he lost his lead at the fourth last and was eventually beaten a length, with Sound Man 10 lengths back in third.

"I've seen him ping them better. Turning in I knew he was not going to win as soon as I saw Richard give him a punch. I couldn't believe it. I thought he would have been cruising along a little bit," said Richards.

Richard Dunwoody said One Man battled well enough but indicated that a return to three miles would be the best option. "Once Strong Promise took the lead, l was hard at it. He battled well enough but didn't have enough to get back."