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Whisper proved his liking for Aintree after showing a resolute attitude to register back-to-back successes in the Silver Cross Stayers' Hurdle.

Favourite Cole Harden was sent straight into the lead by Gavin Sheehan as he looked to repeat the tactics deployed when winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and the three-mile Grade One only began to take shape as the field turned for home for the final time.

Coming away from two out Cole Harden was joined by the Nicky Henderson-trained Whisper and, under the urgings of Gold Cup-winning jockey Nico de Boinville, the 5-1 shot began to forge clear, keeping on gamely all the way to the line to win by three and a half lengths.

De Boinville said: "He had a troubled preparation during the winter, but he's a spring horse and when he gets the sun on his back he really comes into himself. He's thrived in the last two weeks.

"He was a totally different horse to the one I rode at Exeter earlier in the season. He jumped and travelled brilliantly. He travelled well all the way and I was never particularly worried. I knew I had to be on the steel turning in and I just took it from there."

Henderson added: "He had some hard races last year from Ffos Las, Cheltenham and then here.

"He came in looking great, but from day one he was no horse. His work was dreadful. We tried novice chasing (at Exeter), which wasn't great. We lost Oscar Whisky (killed in a fall at Sandown) and this horse was lost on walkabout. It's been a long, dark winter.

"We just had to sit and suffer and I knew weeks before Cheltenham he was starting to get there. Cheltenham was going to come too soon but we still had to there and get the run in. We'll just have to keep coming back here and concentrate on this race.

"I think we're going to say no to Punchestown because we got to the bottom of him last year. That's what did him."

Owner Dai Walters said: "We've had to be patient. He's back and he's now staying hurdling for the rest of his life. We've got plenty of other horses who can go chasing."

Cole Harden's trainer, Warren Greatrex, said: "He's run a cracker. I just thought the zip was maybe missing a little bit. For a few strides turning in I thought we had them, but he's been beaten by a horse that acts very well around here.

"He justified the decision to run him, but Gavin said the ground rode just a little bit dead on him, because he really pings off good ground. We'll put him away now and the aim will be to defend his (World Hurdle) crown next year."

David Pipe was delighted with the performance of Un Temps Pour Tout in finishing third.

He said: "He's run the race of his life and I'm delighted with him. The blinkers have really sharpened him up, but he's definitely better on softer ground.

"He'll be going chasing next year, but he could go to Punchestown or even the French Champion Hurdle."

Paul Nicholls felt conditions were too lively for the disappointing Zarkandar, adding: "The ground was too fast."