Silviniaco Conti gamely won the Betfair Chase at Haydock for a second time for the Paul Nicholls operation.
The 100-30 chance responded manfully when pressed by Menorah two fences from home to replicate his heroics of two years ago.
Jockey Noel Fehily said: "It's another masterclass training performance by Paul Nicholls.
"He's a hell of a good horse. He's an unbelievable stayer."
"He's a hell of a good horse. He's an unbelievable stayer"
Last year's winner, Cue Card, attempted to lead from pillar to post, with Gold Cup standing dish The Giant Bolster never too far off the pace.
Silviniaco Conti began to get serious half-way through the race and was nudged into contention at the 11th fence.
Perhaps the defining moment in the race came four fences from home when Fehily's companion put clear water between the field with a fine jump.
The revitalised Menorah was not done with, though, and suddenly came into the picture under a quiet Richard Johnson ride.
It had fleetingly looked like the recent Charlie Hall Chase scorer was going to uphold the form - Silviniaco Conti could finish only fifth at Wetherby - as the momentum appeared with Philip Hobbs' horse.
But with the cheekpieces applied on Merseyside, the stamina of last season's King George winner kicked in when it mattered under a belligerent Fehily.
Silviniaco Conti ended up winning by two lengths, with Menorah second and Dynaste third, another eight lengths in arrears.
Cue Card was a disappointing fourth as the 3-1 favourite, while the well-fancied Taquin Du Seuil was pulled up a long way from home.
Nicholls has now won the Betfair Chase six times since its inception in 2005.
