Melodic Rendezvous got his season back on track with a game success in the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park.
Jeremy Scott's stable star was found to have torn a muscle after finishing fifth in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and returned to his best by capturing the scalp of the smart Ptit Zig.
Act Of Kalanisi took them along until unshipping Tony McCoy at the fourth-last, leaving Ptit Zig in front. Daryl Jacob was never totally happy on the even-money favourite and was collared at the final flight by Melodic Rendezvous (7-4), who pulled four and a half lengths clear on the run-in.