THERE were no hefty bets on course recorded when Philip Hobbs’ Defi Du Seuil started favourite backers off on the right foot in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Juvenile Hurdle. With two non-runners, including the widely-touted Charli Parcs, and only four lining up, J. P. McManus’ horse started at 1/5 and coasted home from Rainbow Dreamer.

Hardly anyone would have considered those odds after seeing his hurdling technique at Chepstow but he jumped better for Barry Geraghty here and remains unbeaten over hurdles since arriving from France. He went into last week’s race as favourite for the Triumph and now heads straight to the festival, where he will face much stiffer opposition.