Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh enjoyed their third success of the day when Pierrot Lunaire was a runaway winner of the Littlewoods Direct Imagine Appeal Top Novices’ Hurdle.

 

"We’ve done a lot of work with his jumping because I think it helped to get him beaten in his last race, but he finished second to Binocular, who won yesterday. That form was top notch and we really fancied him today," said Nicholls.

 

"He was not so fluent at Kempton and but really got his jumping together here. He’d missed Cheltenham like Elusive Dream, didn’t have a penalty and was my nap of the day. He is in at Punchestown but I think that’s probably it for this season.

 

"It’s brilliant for Bill and Angela Tincknell who are watching at home today, Bill’s not been very well and it’s a great tonic for him. They have been great supporters of mine and I’m so thrilled that they have got a really good horse at last. I think he’s very good."

 

 

Cashmans introduced Pierrot Lunaire at 14/1 into their betting for next season’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Nicholls continued: "He’s a bloody good horse. He worked with Celestial Halo the other day and we couldn’t split them at home. Celestial Halo mighty want a bit further while this one has more speed. I think he’ll just keep improving."

 

 

Walsh added: "If you thought we would have three winners today, you would have thought Master Minded would be one of them! What a great day! That little horse was real gutsy and tough. It’s typical of a horse who misses Cheltenham, he’s just a bit fresher than the rest and put up a really good performance. He was really slick and he attacked his hurdles. He’s a smashing little horse.

 

 

The success completed a 179/1 treble for Walsh and Nicholls.