Edredon Bleu won the showcase Pertemps King George VI Chase as hot favourite Jair du Cochet struggled at Kempton. The 25-1 shot, ridden by Jim Culloty, held off Tony McCoy on Tiutchev and second favourite First Gold.
The 11-year-old Edredon Bleu, trained by Henrietta Knight, led for most of the way around the three-mile chase.
On the final bend he edged clear of First Gold and held off Tiutchev on the run-in after French challenger Jair du Cochet was pulled up.
The winner, owned by Jim Lewis who also owns Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, became the longest-priced champion in 53 runnings of the Boxing Day event.
Lewis and Knight opted not to run holder Best Mate in the King George VI, preferring the easier ground on offer in Ireland in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.
 |  He's just unbelievable, so economical, so gutsy, and he just won't say no |
Jair du Cochet, trained by France's Guillaume Macaire, made a huge blunder early on the first ciruit and nearly unseated rider Jacques Ricou before being pulled up on the back straight the second time around.
Edredon Bleu, the long-time leader, was eventually overhauled by Thierry Doumen on First Gold as they turned for home.
But Culloty urged his mount into an extra effort and Lewis' horse fought back to the front to score by a length and a quarter from Tiutchev with First Gold (11-4) a further length adrift.
Edredon Bleu had finished well beaten behind First Gold in the 2000 King George on his only previous attempt at three miles.
"We always said he'd stay three miles," Knight said.
"He never had a fair trial three years ago because of the soft ground, but he has been in terrific form this year.
"He's just unbelievable, so economical, so gutsy, and he just won't say no."
Culloty, who missed last year's win on Best Mate through suspension, said: "Yer man, First Gold, came by me going well.
"But I couldn't rush him that far out so I gave him a chance for a minute.
"And then the other horse [Tiutchev] came on his outside and pushed him forward, and I was never going to get beat after that.
"Once he gets his head in front like that, you won't get by him.
"This was worth waiting for."
Macaire admitted he was devastated that Jair du Cochet had performed so poorly in the absence of Best Mate.
"After three fences I was sure of a disaster. The horse is OK, but I am not. This was too bad to be true," he said.
In earlier action at Kempton Park, Intersky Falcon won the Christmas Hurdle from Rooster Booster and Sporazene, while Strong Flow edged the Network Design Feltham Novices' Chase from Ballycassidy.
Pertemps King George VI Chase
Kempton, Grade One, 3m 1 Edredon Bleu (J Culloty) 25-1
2 Tiutchev (AP McCoy) 20-1
3 First Gold (T Doumen) 11-4
12 ran. Dist: 1�, 1.
Jobs@Pertemps City Christmas Hurdle
Kempton, Grade One, 2m
1 Intersky Falcon (L Cooper) 11-4
2 Rooster Booster (R Johnson) 7-4 fav
3 Sporazene (R Walsh) 5-2
Six ran. Dist: 2�, 1�.
Network Design Feltham Novices' Chase
Kempton, Grade One, 3m
1 Strong Flow (RWalsh) 4-11 fav
2 Ballycassidy (R Johnson) 6-1
3 Rule Supreme (AP McCoy) 7-1
Five ran. Dist: 8, 8.
MMIX
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