Silsol prevailed by the narrowest of margins when beating Emma Lavelle's Private Malone in the novice chase at Haydock leaving favourite Minella Rocco comfortably beaten two lengths further back.
Silsol received an inspired ride from Sam Twiston-Davies who drove him powerfully up the run-in to prevail by a nose, and in the process handed trainer Paul Nicholls his fourth successive win in this race.
The victory highlight the tough credentials of the unbeaten chaser who was headed on the flat but gamely fought back whilst giving the Private Malone 5lbs.
Minella Rocco looked a horse in need of the outing, with Geraghty holding up his well-touted horse behind the leaders and despite closing in on the leaders at the tenth fence, fell away slghtly before rallying on the flat. The JP McManus horse looked one to appreciate a step up in distance and a more stable surface.
Earlier in the card, Welsh Shadow kept up Dan Skelton's good form with a cosy success in the listed hurdle, drawing clear easily at the last flight and in the process paid a handsome compliment to Yanworth, who beat him last time out.
Yanworth is among a number of many horses touted for glory at the Cheltenham Festival, and is currently 20/1 for both the Supreme and the Neptune novices' hurdle. Welsh Shadow has been introduced at 33/1 for the Supreme.
