Piped Piper justifies short odds in WKD Hurdle

Piped Piper made just about all the running under Jack Kennedy to easily land the featured Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.

Sent straight into the lead from flag fall, the four-year-old set steady fractions under Kennedy, despite an indifferent round of jumping.

A big leap at the second last looked to have sealed the issue but a slow jump at the final flight momentarily gave those that took odds of 1-8f a fright. At that point, Rachael Blackmore was delivering a challenge on David Garrick

However, back on the level, Piped Piper was able to use his potent turn of foot to best advantage, quickening impressively to forge clear.

The win was completing a treble on the card for trainer Gordon Elliott, following the earlier successes of American Mike and Jungle Prose respectively.

Gordon Elliott said: "We didn't want to make the running, he idles in front. We obviously didn't want to make it, but we had to make it.

"Jack said he was just cantering around and he did more in a piece of work at home. He just said he missed the last."

When asked if the Morgiana was next, he replied: "No, I'd say we might wait until Christmas now."

Paddy Power are unchanged at 16/1 about Piped Piper for Champion Hurdle

Additional reporting by Michael Graham