Defi Du Seuil registers impressive triumph at Cheltenham

Defi Du Seuil took his 100 per cent record over jumps to six with an impressive victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, the opening race on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival.Richard Johnson always looked happy on the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding as Mega Fortune, Dinaria Des Obeaux and Evening Hush cut out the running.Defi Du Seuil, wearing the first colours of owner JP McManus, cruised through to challenge at the second-last flight and was switched nearer to the stands rail.The 5-2 favourite soon took command and pulled clear on the run-in to score by five lengths from Mega Fortune, who held Bapaume by a short head for second.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."