Josses Hill © Photo Healy Racing
Third Intention floored Cheltenham Festival hopeful Josses Hill in the Racing UK 1 Price 3 Devices Graduation Chase at Kempton.
Colin Tizzard's eight-year-old put up a courageous effort to give 11lb to the Nicky Henderson-trained 1-2 favourite.
Daryl Jacob set out to make all the running on Third Intention (7-1) but Ceasar Milan jumped into the lead three out, only to be gathered in by Third Intention and Josses Hill before the final fence. They jumped the obstacle together and it was Third Intention who got on top to collect by three-quarters of a length.
Tizzard is keen to point his winner at the Topham Trophy, with Cheltenham not a certain port of call ahead of Aintree.
His son Joe explained: "We asked Daryl to let the horse enjoy himself. In the past he's folded up, but today he didn't.
"He's in the Ryanair and we might look at that if it involved a small amount of runners, while he could run in a handicap. But the one we like is the Topham as we think his jumping would stand him in good stead over the National fences."
Jacob said: "He took a guess at the ditch which was my fault, but in the straight he picked up and battled well. He's versatile and he loved it out there."
Josses Hill was ridden under restraint and cornered awkwardly round the clubhouse turn. He then took off way too soon and did well to safely negotiate the second fence out in the country. However, Barry Geraghty was happy with his jumping.
Henderson said: "That jump at the ditch unsettled him and it took us three or four fences to get back into it.
"Barry said that if he'd won a neck he'd have been delighted, but he has been beaten just under a length. His theory is that we'll see him jump better when they go off at a good gallop. He's not ruling out the Arkle and he believes in the horse."
Paddy Power eased Josses Hill to 12-1 (from 5) for the Arkle, while shortening Un De Sceaux to 1-2 from 4-6.
