€1.4m buy Palladium drifts in Triumph betting after workmanlike victory

German Derby hero Palladium made successful start to his career over hurdles with a workmanlike victory at Huntingdon.

Nicky Henderson’s charge became the most expensive jumps horse ever bought in October after being knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of owner Lady Bamford for the sum of €1.4million at the Arqana Arc Sale.

The four-year-old won twice on the Flat in Germany, including his Classic triumph in the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg in the summer, while he was last seen finishing last of six behind Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting start Rebel’s Romance in the Preis von Europa in September.

All eyes were on the colt son of Gleneagles ahead of his highly-anticipated switch to jumping and he was an easy-to-back 8-15 favourite under for division two of the Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle.

Having jumped well throughout behind the pacesetting pair of Taxus Baccata and Jack Hyde, Palladium was allowed to stride on leaving the back straight and looked set to win comfortably after pulling clear of the chasing pack.

Unconsidered 50-1 shot Wolf Moon came from out of the pack to emerge as the biggest threat after the home turn and De Boinville had to get serious after the final flight, but Palladium found enough for pressure to score by two lengths.

Paddy Power eased the winner’s odds for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival to 16-1 from 12-1, with his stablemate Lulamba heading the market at 6-4. Coral took the opposite view, going 12-1 from 16s for the Triumph.