Having chased home Grade One winner Fiddlerontheroof on his first attempt over the larger obstacles at Exeter, the Fergal O’Brien-trained seven year old went one better in the Grade Two prize under Adam Wedge.

Jumping well in front the 2-1 chance had his task made easier when odds-on favourite Allart parted company with Nico de Boinville mid-way down the back straight of the 2m 4f contest.

Finding plenty from the sharp end, Silver Hallmark maintained a resolute gallop all the way to the line to defeat last time Ayr winner Marown by four and a half lengths.

Wedge said: “I was never aware of what was happening behind me. I wasn’t aware of Nicky’s horse falling but credit to my lad he has gone and done everything on his own in front. He has just made a little mistake every now and then as he has just switched off a bit and he would be better with a lead, but he has handled the ground.

“On better ground he will get further but for the minute he wants to stick at two and a half. It was a cracking run at Exeter and if he ran to that form today he wouldn’t be far away. It made it easier with Nicky’s horse falling but we don’t know what would have happened.

“We didn’t want to make the running and I would have preferred to have a lead but we’ve had to go and do it as no one else was there. Fergal said our lad schools on his own as well so there was no worries but it wouldn’t have been Plan A.”