Drama at Sandown as favourite and winner Saint Calvados is gifted huge lead by key rival

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 18-1 treble for Cobden and 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