Dedicated Hero (6-1) caused an upset as 2-7 favourite Royal Infantry lost his unbeaten start in the Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.

Dan Skelton's hot favourite was looking to make it three wins from three starts and enhance his reputation. But it was Sandy Thomson's Dedicated Hero – a winner twice at Kelso from his previous three starts – was the one to do that as he scored by half-a-length, under Ryan Mania, from Cloonaira (17-2).

The six-year-old took the step up to Grade Two company in his stride and connections were initially looking at the Premier Hurdle at Kelso at the start of March and then onto the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse the following month. But after his third win from four starts in the Trial for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle he may be rerouted to the Cheltenham Festival opener, for which he was introduced at 50-1 with bet365.with a third straight victory.

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Peacenik made the running with Royal Infantry just sat off the pace in second with Dedicated Hero close up in third. Peacenik was clear by four lengths halfway through the two-mile contest, but Harry Skelton had Royal Infantry travelling well in behind and poised to strike. But after the turn for home Royal Infantry jumped left and got behind his rivals as Dedicated Hero moved back through. He ran on well to score by half-a-length.

Grand National-winning jockey Mania said: "We know he's a nice horse but today was finding out about how nice he is. He has done his jobs well but it was at Kelso. But bringing him here we found out a lot about him. He was niggling into the back straight as he found the track a bit sharp. But he stayed on well all the way to the line. I didn't have enough horse to be there and I kept getting squeezed up. But luckily he dropped back enough for me to switch out and once I got a bit of daylight he was away. I just hope Ruby Walsh wasn't watching as I dropped my whip."

He added: "The original plan was the Premier Hurdle at Kelso as you know he is good around there and the 2m2f will suit him. And then it would have been Aintree. We haven't really talked about Cheltenham but after this we will have a discussion and see what is best for him. I always thought he wanted three miles and he shows nothing at home and it very workmanlike and it quite slow but on the racecourse you can't ignore what he has done over two miles. Until he tells us otherwise we will stay at two miles and see where it goes.

"This is great for Sandy and the team at home, especially the way the weather has been recently. It has been a real hard work to keep these horses going and we have been missing a real good one since maybe Seeyouatmidnight, so hopefully this lad can really get there as well."

Royal Infantry is out to 50-1 and 66-1 for the the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle following his lacklustre effort as he failed to back up successes at Chepstow with another superb success over course and distance at Haydock last month.

Solar System (7-2 favourite) survived a stewards' inquiry before being confirmed the short-head winner of the Sky Bet Club Handicap Hurdle. The Philip Hobbs and Jonson White-trained eight-year-old just managed to edge out Sandy Thomson's I Am Max (5-1) in a thrilling battle to the line.

I Am Max, under Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania, led for much of the way with Clondaw Royale close up for much of the first circuit. Blue Fin was sat third on the rail with Thanksforthehelp (13-2) also close up. As Blue Fin faded those three were still at the head of affairs but it was Solar System who was finishing best and came through to lead after the final flight and on the run to the line. I Am Max rallied but Solar System just got his head in front at the line to score by a short-head with Thanksforthehelp – sporting the same JP McManus colours as winner Solar System – a further eight lengths back in third.

Winning jockey Nolan said: "He was tough. He travelled very well and jumped super. He used to be very keen this fella but now he is starting to relax and gives himself every chance. His jumping was super and when he goes over a fence we will see him even better. It was a good performance and nice to get a winner in these colours (of owner JP McManus). We did get a bit close but that is good, tight racing and he was OK."

Warren Greatrex’s Margaret's Legacy (9-4) won the opener at Haydock, the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old made a winning debut for the Upper Lambourn stable at Southwell last month having previously been trained by Tim Vaughan. And under Harry Bannister, Margaret's Legacy quickly doubled up when he scored by a comfortable two-and-a-quarter lengths from Ned Tanner (6-1).

Margaret's Legacy was handy early on, sitting just off the pace set by the front-running Roger Rarebit. He was swapping the lead with that rival for much of the way and jumping well in the main on the outside. 2-1 favourite No No Tango fell midway through the 2m4f contest as Margaret's Legacy moved clear when Roger Rarebit made a mistake four fences from home. Ned Tanner came through to challenge, but Margaret's Legacy was going well in front and went on to make it two wins from two starts since the switch to Greatrex.

A delighted Greatrex said: "We are going well. But it is like anything, when you have the ammunition you can do the job. We are very happy. He has his issues and jumping scares me to death but Harry (Bannister) said it doesn't feel too bad on board. But he has got a big engine. Like I said he has had his issues. He came to me with Tim Vaughan's blessing and the owners have still got horses with him. But Tim struggled to get him fit and we have got a swimming pool and a water treadmill which he spends a lot of time in and that helps him.

"There is no doubt the ability, he has got a serious engine. He will move up in grade. He has got a good cruising speed. I need to work on his jumping because up in grade he is going to have to be a bit slicker. He jumps well but he is very French. His issues are behind, he has got hock issues and that might just affect him a bit. But we can get him better. We have nothing in mind (for his next run). But we are chuffed to bits – two from two for me so that's great."

Bertie's Ballet (13-2) got his head back in front to land the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap Hurdle. The Dianne Sayer-trained seven-year-old won over course and distance at Haydock in December 2023 but had not scored since despite running some good races in defeat on Merseyside recently. He had been second and third at Haydock twice at the end of last year recently and built on those solid efforts to get his head back in front.

Under Henry Brooke, Bertie's Ballet went to the front early on but was exchanging the lead with Spirits Bay (7-2) for much of the way. Having been headed two flights from home, he rallied well on the inside and as Spirits Bay faded, Bertie's Ballet galloped on to victory. He held off the late challenge of Lario (7-1) to beat that rival by a length-and-half with Spirits Bay a furlong eight lengths back in third.

Sayer said: "He is my pride and joy. He has gone close a couple of times and we have looked after him as he was a little bit lacking in confidence. But we decided after the last day we thought we had to build on that confidence and today he had to stand and be counted and make a man of him. That is a first runner coming back out of Stoneriggs yard (in Appleby, Cumbria). We moved yard and so I am delighted. I think Ken (Slack, Sayer's late brother and former trainer) was up there telling me to get on, so it's all good. We are training from Stoneriggs now and it's where my mum (Evelyn Slack) trained from and it is where Ken trained from so it is nice to be back home."