Song For Someone (6/1) continued his rise through the ranks with a thrilling win over Silver Streak (10/1) in the Unibet International Hurdle.
In a strange renewal of the Grade Two contest, in which three hurdles were omitted and Goshen folded tamely before the turn for home having pulled hard under restraint, five horses had a chance passing what would have been the final flight.
The winner held a definite advantage soon after but the runner-up gathered momentum and would have been in front a stride after the line.
As it was he went down by a nose.
Sky Bet cut Song For Someone to 16/1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Paddy Power and Betfair go 20/1.
"I was in top gear most of the way," said winning rider Aidan Coleman. "He kept finding though and going round the last hurdle picked up again and would have been a bit of an unlucky loser as he was just in front too long.
"He has a great attitude and I'm not sure a Champion Hurdle on the Old Course would suit him. He might be better over a bit further and he might be more of an Aintree horse. He's won three Grade Twos on his last three runs and he's ready to go up in class.
"He's a very admirable horse and Tom Symonds has done a great job with him and is having a wonderful season."
Symonds said: “The lack of hurdles caused a real problem. He got out of rhythm early on and Aidan said he was very brave today.
“He did very well with no hurdles in the straight – as you saw at Ascot, when you are firing him at hurdles, that is when he is making ground, not on the flat.
“I’m delighted. For a horse to win three Grade Twos on the trot is a really big effort and he is only a five-year-old. He is just a fantastic horse to have.
“I’m thrilled for (owners) Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings, particularly Sir Peter, who is not well and has not been well for a long time. I can tell you the replays of the Kingwell Hurdle (in February) have definitely kept him going through lockdown, as he is in his own lockdown really at home.”
Symonds believes easy ground is key to Song For Someone’s potential Cheltenham or Aintree challenge.
He added: “It would need to be very soft for him to figure in one of those (Champion Hurdle or Aintree Hurdle).
“I’m not downing him, but I just wonder if he has the tactical speed in a Champion Hurdle. I was surprised he won a Kingwell in the nicest sense. We will live on today.
“We will see how we go, but I wonder if, on maybe softer ground, and even if it was better ground, two and a half at Aintree would suit him as we have seen with that race in general it suits horses that rock and roll.
“He is just a fabulous horse and I’m glad we didn’t go chasing.”
Silver Streak’s trainer Evan Williams felt the omission of hurdles had detracted from the race.
He said: “We’ve got to do something about these obstacles coming out as it doesn’t enhance the spectacle. I’m not saying it’s cost us, what I’m saying is it has cost the sport. My horse got beat fair and square – that is racing.
“The ground is no excuse. He is better on faster ground, but the winner has won well. I never moan about getting beat. Our horse has run a great race and the winner has run a better race.
“We won’t go to Haydock as the ground won’t suit him. If the ground is OK, two weeks today we will be at Kempton to watch Nicky’s (Henderson) mare (Epatante) swoop by us going to the last and we will admire her backside and try to get a bit of prize money (in the Christmas Hurdle).
“He is a horse of a life time for Mr Fell (owner) and us and I’m very proud of him.”