Barry Geraghty moved onto the coat-tails of Ruby Walsh at the top of the jockey's table at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday as Soldatino collared long-time leader Barizan in a thrilling renewal of the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Barizan looked to have stolen a march on the field as they turned for home but he was threading water approaching the last and a weary jump at the final hurdle sealed his fate as Nicky Henderson's four-year-old swept past to land the opening Grade One of the day at odds of 6-1.
The Seven Barrows handler was winning the race for the second consecutive year following Zaynar's triumph 12 months ago.
Edward O'Grady's Irish raider Alaivan (9-2) was a further seven lengths back in third in what was an energy sapping race while well-backed favourite Carlito Brigante failed to make the frame back in fourth.
"It was a good performance," Geraghty said. "The leader (Barizan) set off very quick, I had to drop in and switch off. The leader went off that quick he had to stop.
"I gave him a couple of slaps before the last to keep him going forward. I knew I would get there well enough.
"It's a long way from the second last home and having gone that quick, he couldn't keep it up to the line."
Henderson said: "I'm thrilled for the horse, he's only a baby, they all are, but he's very inexperienced.
"You nearly felt sorry for the second horse because he got away from them. You have to say he's run a fantastic race.
"You worry that he is only a baby and it was a long way to have to go on your own and catch the other horse because the gap was huge, but he does stay."