Making his British hurdling debut, the three-year-old French import travelled noticeably well throughout the race and could be seen cantering all over his rivals before the home turn. Skipping over the final hurdle, he pulled clear to register a facile fifteen length victory.
Sent off the 4/1 second favourite for the Festival trial, he saw off Grandouet, who was left floundering in second, with Plan A and the running-on Horatio Cane leading home the chasing pack.
The mount of Noel Fehily had raced three times over hurdles at Auteuil, finishing second on each occasion, and put his experience to good useover his fellow three-year-olds.
Trainer Paul Nicholls was jubilant afterwards and said "Until you run them you don’t know what you have got. Ruby [Walsh] thought he was our best chance today as he had given him such a good feel at home.
"It looks like we have a smart one but next year he will certainly be jumping fences. We liked him from day one and he has been an awesome jumper. We will see what happens but the hurly-burly of the Triumph will not bother him."
Fehily was clearly impressed with his mount, saying: “He gave me the feel of a real nice horse. They went a good gallop early doors but he made up the ground so easy. He’s entitled to be favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.”
Sam Winner and jockey Noel Fehily, well clear of their rivals in the Triumph Hurdle trial
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