Mate only second best behind Cochet

French raider Jair Du Cochet lowered the colours of hot favourite Best Mate when beating the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner with ease in the Tote Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon today.

Jacques Ricou always had Guillaume Macaire’s six-year-old up with the pace, which was only steady, before stretching clear in the straight to score by eight lengths, despite hitting the last fence hard, at 100-30.