Song For Someone continued his progression when just holding off Silver Streak in the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Trained by Tom Symonds, the five-year-old was dropping back in trip having won the Coral Hurdle last time out, but he had to dig deep on the run to the line.
Several hurdles were omitted due to low sun and there were plenty in with chances turning into the straight, but it was the chestnut under Aidan Coleman who continued on his winning streak.
Silver Streak, who was carried out by a loose horse in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle two weeks ago, finished with a wet sail under Adam Wedge, but he went down by just a nose to the 6-1 chance.
Favourite Goshen had been keen throughout and got to the front coming down the hill, but faded out of contention quickly to be last.
🤩 A grandstand finish in the big one!
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) December 12, 2020
Song For Someone narrowly denies Silver Streak to win the Grade 2 @unibet International Hurdle for @AidanColeman and @thomsymonds 🏆 pic.twitter.com/36UkYiGMjI
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."
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."
