Defi Du Seuil wins Triumph Hurdle in brilliant fashion

Defi Du Seuil marked himself as a future Champion Hurdle contender with a smooth success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

The 5/2 favourite, ridden by champion jockey Richard Johnson, made it six wins from six since his arrival on British shores in impressive fashion.

Front-running Mega Fortune finished second at 7/1 for the week's leading trainer Gordon Elliott, but he was no match for Philip Hobbs' exciting juvenile on the run up the hill and finished five lengths adrift.

Bapaume, bidding to give Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins a fifth win of the week, travelled sweetly but failed to find as much as the winner before fading into third at 10/1.

Johnson said: "I was a passenger all the way to be honest, he travelled and jumped. At Christmas he shocked me how much speed he had and on the better ground some people thought that was a negative.

"He's just improved all year and I can't believe he's the same horse I rode at Ffos Las four or five months ago. All credit to Philip, he's handled him brilliantly all year.

"He travelled so well and I was just trying not to get there too soon. I spoke to Barry (Geraghty), who would have ridden him, and it must be very hard for him watching, but he told me exactly how to ride him.

"It's hard for juveniles to make the jump to the Champion Hurdle, but he's not a typical juvenile as he's not an ex-Flat horse."

Hobbs put a possible spanner in the Champion Hurdle 2018 works when he added: "That's fantastic, he couldn't have won any better. It's a big relief as he's been favourite all year - it's great when it goes right.

"He travelled so well, we were so lucky to get him. He could go Champion Hurdle or Arkle next year, we'll have to see.

"He always jumps well. There was one or two little hiccups at Chepstow when he won. Because he had never run on good ground there was a bit of a concern, but there was no reason why he shouldn't have handled it.

"He has run six times and has won them all very easily, so I don't know whether that was a career best. We've not schooled him over fences, but he will be mustard over them.

"We shouldn't get too bullish, too early. He has a fantastic attitude is very sound and has got fantastic ability.

"He is tough as old boots. The difference with Rooster Booster (Hobbs' Champion Hurdle winner) is that he never really jumped fences. This horse has always jumped well and there is no reason he won't jump fences at all.

"When you have a horse that keeps on winning, when they are beat the bubble is burst and because he is unbeaten for us we don't know how good he might be. We've taken another big step up today."