Paul Nicholls off and running at Newbury Racecourse with treble on BetVictor Jumps season opener

Paul Nicholls produced a fine treble to kick start the new season at Newbury as the BetVictor Jumps season opener took place.

The Ditcheat handler completed the hat-trick when Silver Forever won the BetVictor Loyalty Club Beginners Chase under Harry Cobden.

Silver Forever was making her first start since January 2020 as Nicholls decided to give the seven-year-old a year off and he explained how it's paid off.

"She fractured her pelvis a while back and she came in last year and we weren't happy with her, so we thought we'd give her the year off and I think it's the best thing we ever did.

"We did everything we could to get her fit and Nat Parker rides her everyday and she has been telling me that she's as good as ever, but until they're out there doing it you just never know."

Elsewhere, Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden secured a winner on the day when Stoney Mountain produced a stunning display to land the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

Under Gavin Sheehan, the eight-year-old finished ahead of Didtheyleaveuoutto and One For You on his first run since pulling up at Huntington in a Handicap Hurdle in May.

After the race, Snowden said: "I thought it was a nice performance, he has always been a nice horse and last season nothing went right for him.

"We tried to go novice chasing with him and he didn't really take to that and then he picked up an injury.

"We went to Aintree, and ran well, but got no luck in the running and then he got the thumps at Huntington and it was one of those 'write off' seasons.

"He has come back this year, he has had a clear run and we'll try and get him qualified for the Pertemps final at the [Cheltenham] Festival, but we'll head to the Grade 3 at Haydock [Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle] next."

In the opening race of the day, the Nicholls-trained Siroco Jo got in front to win under Lorcan Williams.

After the race, the trainer said he might be tempted to run his four-year-old on Tuesday, in a Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield.

"He was a big, weak horse last year when he run here [Newbury] and he probably needed the summer. I might run him again quickly at Lingfield on Tuesday now.

"Kevin Stott has been schooling him at home, so I might run him there if he is alright because I can get in without a penalty because today was a boys race."

Nicholls made it a quick-fire double in the second race as Silent Revolution got ahead of the Nicky Henderson-trained Broomfield Burg to land the Novices Hurdle Race.

He said: "He'll make a nice chaser, he'll get two-and-a-half and Harry said that, but I haven't really made a plan for him yet."

Elsewhere, Cheltenham trainer Fergal O'Brien continued his strong season as Dublin Four won a BetVictor Handicap Steeple Chase.

The Alan King-trained Nina The Terrier took victory in the Mares Novice Hurdle Race, while Super Duper Sam won the National Hunt Race.