Maestro Conti passes Triumph Trial examination

Harry Skelton earned the praise of brother Dan once again this season after Maestro Conti outlined his Triumph Hurdle claims on Cheltenham Festival Trials day.

An impressive winner at Kempton on his UK bow, he was sent off at 5-2 to enhance his reputation in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle and despite racing keenly in stages, was supremely handled by his rider, who delayed his challenge as long as possible.

At the last the winner still had around three lengths to find with Harry Derham’s course winner One Horse Town who gave a brave effort from the front.

However, Maestro Conti showed a turn of foot when it mattered most up the run-in to come home two lengths clear of the long-time leader, with Paul Nicholls’ 2-1 favourite Minella Yoga in third.

Skelton said: “He did a lot wrong and Harry sat on him longer than he was probably going to from two out to the last just to make sure he filled up.

“I thought it was a very good ride tactically and because he had been keen he just couldn’t commit him. He still had three or four lengths to make up at the last and it was superb from Harry.

“He ran at Kempton at Christmas where they were breaking track records and this was a very different track, different conditions and different opposition.

“I’m very happy with him, he showed all the attributes we hoped he had and gave away a small penalty to a few in the field.

“He has a lot of style and a lot of class. He wouldn’t work the house down at home, but we wouldn’t ask him to. I really liked how he came home there, he was given a chance to win and he wanted to.

“There was a small question he had to answer 10 strides before the last, but he moved up so quick I was then very happy.

“They have to be good to do it like that round here in that ground and he will come back for the Triumph now in March.

Maestro Conti was made an 8-1 chance for the juvenile championship in March and he could be joined in that contest by the runner-up, who will first head to Kempton on February 21 for the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle.

Derham said: “If he’s all right he will run in the Adonis and if after that he’s all right he will run in the Triumph and again after that we will look at Aintree.

“He was a very cheap purchase, bought to win at Hexham, and this is all a bonus so he deserves the right to go everywhere. He’s a fabulous little horse who has done us proud.”