Golden Silver justified odds of 2/13 with the minimum of fuss in the Grade 2 paddypower.com Chase at Naas to complete a double for his trainer and rider Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, earlier successful with Johnny McGeeney
Mrs Violet O'Leary's Golden Silver sat in last of the three in this valuable two miler (worth €30,225 to the winner) and he eased ahead on the run-in to canter home the seven length victor from Made In Taipan They left the old man of the party Mansony nineteen lengths behind. Of course Golden Silver's connections also picked up the €1,395 for fourth place.
Mullins said afterwards: "I was a bit afraid coming here after not doing a lot with him since his last run - with Cheltenham in mind. However he is enjoying his racing and he was very good today. His jumping was a lot sweeter.
"I'll leave a decision as to what race he goes for at Cheltenham until I see the ground. The form book suggests the Champion Chase is his race.
"We would be looking towards taking on Big Zeb again then. If the ground was very lively though he could go for the Ryanair.
"He has never won over any further than two miles one so the more I think of it the more I'm leaning towards the shorter race (the Champion Chase)."
