TRIUMPH HOPE PITTONI SPRING-HEELED

February 7 2010

Pittoni - easy winner.

Pittoni put himself in contention for JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with a Grade One victory in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

His trainer Charles Byrnes is heading to the Cotswolds with a powerful team which includes leading Champion Hurdle hope Solwhit, and Pittoni was trimmed to 16-1 from 25s for the Triumph by Sky Bet after his smooth success.

Davy Russell sent the 4-6 favourite about his business jumping the penultimate obstacle and his partner pinged the final flight to take his unbeaten run over timber to three.

Byrnes said: "He did it well and will jump better with a faster pace.

"He'll head straight to Cheltenham now but he won't want the ground too quick."