Champion British jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has claimed two big prizes as the National Hunt season gets into full swing.

Silviniaco Conti added a second Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock to his 2012 victory while Al Ferof claimed back-to-back wins in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot.

Both will head to the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day with Silviniaco Conti now the 7-2 favourite and Al Ferof cut to 8-1.

Nicholls, who claimed his sixth win in the Betfair Chase, was full of praise for Silviniaco Conti.

"When he's right, he's probably the best (in the country)," Nicholls said.

Silviniaco Conti produced a curious display in last season's Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, when he finished fourth but inexplicably lost his way along the run-in when in a commanding position.

"A few things didn't go to plan last season and I don't know what happened to him in the Gold Cup," he said.

"But when I saw he had his ears pricked today I knew they wouldn't get past him."