Ar Mad produced a tremendously game display to deny hot favourite Vaniteux in a pulsating climax to the williamhill.com Novices' Chase at Kempton.
Gary Moore's Ar Mad was a 5-2 chance in the hands of the trainer's son Josh following a scintillating front-running display in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown at the start of the month, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Vaniteux the 10-11 market leader to follow up an impressive chasing debut over the course and distance.
It was nearly all over for favourite-backers at the very first fence as Vaniteux badly fluffed his lines, but Nico de Boinville managed to sit tight and his jumping was far more assured for the rest of the race.
Ar Mad jumped brilliantly out in front, constantly putting pressure on his opponents.
Vaniteux managed to keep tabs on him, however, and looked like coming out on top after hitting the front in the straight.
But Ar Mad roared back tenaciously on the run to the final fence and after producing the quicker leap, he got back up to take the Grade Two prize, better known as the Wayward Lad, by a neck.