Conti lands the Bowl Silviniaco Conti dug deep when it mattered most to register back-to-back victories in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree. The nine-year-old was sent straight to the lead in the three-mile-one furlong contest by Noel Fehily just strides after the tapes rose. Closely pursued by main market rival Holywell, the 7/4 favourite seemed to enjoy himself out in front jumping with great enthusiasm. After a circuit of little change, Fehily began to turn the screw up front as the field headed down the back straight for a second time. Heading around the home turn the leader was still travelling best of them all, and as Holywell began to feel the pinch, Ma Filleule moved up menacingly in the hands of Daryl Jacob. Although looking beat, Holywell responded to pressure over the second-last, with Silviniaco Conti shaken up and the patiently-ridden Ballynagour creeping closer all the time. As the challenge of Holywell finally petered out, Ballynagour was left to lay down the gauntlet but it was not enough with the Paul Nicholls-trained winner leaving behind his effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to win by a head. Fehily said: "It was another great performance, he's some little horse on his day, his jumping was electric, that was what he was like at Kempton. "I don't know what it is about Cheltenham, I can't put my finger on it, but he's won another Grade One today and had a great season." Nicholls said: "I knew he was going to idle in front and then he got in really tight to the last. "I said to Noel last night to make all, don't give them an inch as he's mega-fit and if he flies like he can he'll win. "He's not the quickest but he gallops all day. He loves this better ground and I don't think the testing ground at Cheltenham suited him. "It's so good to get them back on song after a disappointing run, it reflects so well on the team. "We'll just have to keep him on this sort of track now. "I was revving Noel up last night to make every post a winning one, I'm so chuffed. "I did enter him at Punchestown this morning, just in case something went wrong today, but he's finished for the season now."
