Hot favourite Saint Calvados was gifted a huge lead by his key rival on the way to winning the bet365 Oaksey Chase.
Mister Fisher, second in the betting, backed away from the tape at the start of the Grade 2 event at Sandown. By the time his rider Nico de Boinville got him going forward again, Harry Cobden had poached a big advantage on the evens favourite.
Saint Calvados jumped fluently returning to front running tactics that previously served him well and kept up the gallop to score by 16 lengths. It was the second leg of an incredible five-timer for Paul Nicholls, crowned champion trainer for the 13th time earlier in the afternoon.
Well-backed all morning, Saint Calvados was cheered into the winners' enclosure by punters.
"I've never had so much praise (from the crowd). I don't know what's going on!" Cobden told ITV Racing.
"He had a lovely run round. He actually measured his fences a lot better in front today and just had a look. I don't think he stays quite three miles, he was tying up a little bit there at the end. He's just a very, very classy horse.
"We have had a few problems with him along the way but we have got him where we want now and I know he's getting a bit older but I'm sure we can win a few nice races with him next year."
The ITV pundits had their say on Mister Fisher's antics before the race. "Nico's horse ducked left and literally lost the race at the start," said AP McCoy.
"When the tape went up he just shied away so he did and the horse in front Saint Calvados got it easy."
A note from the stewards post-race read: "It was noted that after the started was effected Mister Fisher, placed second, veered sharply left-handed across Nuts Well, placed fourth, and Erne River, placed third, leaving both of those runners flat footed and resulting in the winner, Saint Calvados, being gifted an early lead."
Saint Calvados was Cobden's 97th winner of the season and he moved onto 98 when Greaneteen (11-8f) stamped his class on the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase. The rider took the opening bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle on Knappers Hill (11-4f).
All three of the opening winners for Cobden and Nicholls were favourites in the betting. McFabulous and Samarrive rounded off a fantastic afternoon for the Ditcheat operation.
The trainer said it was a successful comeback for Greaneteen, who had been treated for an eye problem after his Leopardstown defeat.
The eight-year-old landed his second top level triumph at the track this term with a 12-length supremacy over Sceau Royal. "He just doesn't get the credit he deserves," Nicholls said.
"He has won a Tingle Creek, he has won two of these now, on his day he is very, very good."
