East India Dock cruises to deeply impressive Triumph Trial victory

made the lightest possible work of the JCB Trial Juvenile Hurdle at when sauntering to a straightforward victory.

The James Owen-trained three-year-old was formerly campaigned on the Flat for owner-breeders the Gredley family and made a winning hurdles debut at Wincanton last time out.

Well backed as the 4-5 favourite stepping up to Grade Two level, victory never looked in any doubt.

In a field of 10 nothing could go with him when Sam Twiston-Davies kicked for home and he cantered across the line 18 lengths ahead of Olly Murphy’s Static.

As a result, Coral made East India Dock their 8-1 favourite from 25-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Paddy Power are 10-1 (from 33-1) while BetVictor are also offering 8-1.

Twiston-Davies told Racing TV: "Hew as fantastic and jumped really nice.

"Once I got tucked in he relaxed really nicely.

"He had a lot of staying form on the Flat so I wanted to be aggressive.

"It was quite impressive what he did and then he obviously took some pulling up afterwards."