Kandoo Kid kept on strongly to give Paul Nicholls a valuable Coral Gold Cup victory at Newbury on Saturday.

It was the Ditcheat handler’s first success in this race since the mighty Denman prevailed for the second time in 2009.

French raider General En Chef came cruising into contention down the long home straight and seemed set for an impressive triumph.

However, as he ran out of petrol after jumping the final fence, Kandoo Kid (8/1) still had plenty of stamina left in reserve and stayed on to score by a length and three-quarters under Harry Cobden, with 4/1 favourite Broadway Boy back in second after rallying from a bad mistake three out.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Senior Chief fared best of the three Irish-trained runners by finishing sixth of the 12 finishers. Grandero Bello (Eddie and Patrick Harty) was eighth and Horantzau D'Airy (Willie Mullins) was ninth.