Pied Piper regains winning thread on chasing bow

Pied Piper paid back some of his hefty purchase price when bouncing back to form to claim victory in the Fibrus Gallop At Gigabit Speeds Beginners Chase at Down Royal.

Gordon Elliott’s charge survived a couple of erratic jumps to ultimately prevail by 20 lengths as the 10-11 favourite under Danny Gilligan and was winning for the first time since changing hands for €570,000 at the Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal sale in February 2024.

A former Triumph Hurdle third and Cesarewitch runner-up on the Flat, he was placed in last season’s County Hurdle on his first start for new owners but then disappointed on his next four outings before this success.

Assistant trainer Lisa O’Neill said: “On his best day, he is entitled to win that. As Danny said, he had a couple of novicey mistakes but he’ll certainly learn from the experience.

“It is lovely to get his head in front again. He was a little bit keen in the early stages, but Danny gave him a lovely ride. It is lovely to see him do that.”

Pied Piper was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time on his chasing debut and O’Neill added: “Probably his last couple of runs were a little bit disappointing. It was probably just to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, but he has been schooling well at home. I’m sure he will build on that and learn plenty from that jumping today.

“Danny seemed to be very happy with him. It is his first time over fences and Down Royal is a big jumping test as well for a novice. Hopefully, he will be able to get another couple on the board after that.”

Asked if the seven-year-old could return to graded company over fences, she said: “Hopefully so. Obviously, in his past he is a high-class performer in his own right. Hopefully he can continue to go on and continue to be that in the future in this new discipline, once it looks like it has reignited a bit of a spark in him and hopefully it will keep alight.”

Nastya looked a nice prospect for Henry de Bromhead when romping home by 25 lengths in the Giddyup And Switch To Fibrus Mares Maiden Hurdle under Rachael Blackmore.

The six-year-old was sent off as the 8-13 favourite on the back of two promising placed efforts.

She finished third behind stablemate and subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Air Of Entitlement over the same course and distance on Boxing Day before chasing home the Willie Mullins-trained Sainte Tartare at Limerick.

Blackmore said: “It was straightforward. A mistake at the last, but very good everywhere else.

“She had a nice run the last day and a lovely run up here behind Air Of Entitlement at Christmas – lovely form coming into the race and built on that today.”