'The quickest horse I've ridden over hurdles' - Triumph next for Knight Salute

Saturday: Kempton

Milton Harris promised the leading Irish Triumph Hurdle contenders a stiff test when they travel over to Cheltenham next month after Knight Salute extended his unbeaten record over jumps to five in the Adonis.

The four-year-old, trimmed into as short as 10-1 (from 14) for the JCB-backed Triumph, bounded three and a quarter lengths clear of Teddy Blue, who was mounting a meaningful challenge before a slight error at the last.

Harris described Knight Salute's work as "sexy" this week and, after watching his stable star follow up his Grade 2 success at Doncaster, has set his sights on festival fancies Vauban, Fil D'Or and Pied Piper.

Adonis result, replay and analysis

"I was enormously satisfied with that," said the trainer, who was mobbed by reporters hoping for another evocative description of the winner. "He had a little cough and a splutter ten days ago, but he worked like a demon on Tuesday, which he doesn't normally do.

Paddy Brennan guides Knight Salute (left) to victory over Teddy BlueCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"I was a little apprehensive because these are good horses in here. He does as little as he can and he wins, doesn’t he? They’re the best types to have. At Doncaster nothing was right for him, but he won. He won at Cheltenham and on a sharp track today – he's adaptable."

On the Triumph, Harris added: "The Irish horses are all talented but some have been beaten and we haven't. He should be suited by better ground. I'm not sure we'll beat them but they'll have a race from the last. He'll work a few more times but he doesn't do a lot."

Knight Salute was also inexpensive. He cost 14,000gns as a three-year-old and has now won three Grade 2s, including the Summit Juvenile Hurdle and Cheltenham's Triumph Trial, for the Four Candles Partnership.

"He looked like a nice horse who seemed to have lost his way," said Harris. "We'll be taking on horses who cost ten times more. He was inexpensive but we need people with all budgets involved in racing."

The gelding's co-owner Mark Adams helped pick him at the sales, and said: "We're extremely excited and there's nothing better than that. We were saying in the stand we couldn't believe he would win five.

"He always saves a bit for himself and that's perhaps why he's been underestimated but we're absolutely delighted. I've been in racing for a long time. It's not easy to get a good horse, so to have paid so little for one doing as well as he is – it's quite remarkable.

"I have to keep pinching myself. Why not go for the Triumph? He's not flashy like some of the horses in Ireland but he is always there or thereabouts and has beaten what is put in front of him."

Paddy Brennan, who was on board for the third time in a row, was similarly impressed and added: "We went faster than I thought we would, which really helped me. I was going as quickly as I possibly could in the first few furlongs. I got there a bit quickly but he's really gutsy.

"He's probably the quickest horse I've ridden over hurdles – he's so accurate. If you were to time him from one side of a hurdle to the other, he's very quick. He stays very well and Cheltenham suits him. While the Triumph looks competitive, we know he'll go and perform."

More Saturday action:

Bobbjo Chase: 'I couldn't have asked for a better prep' - Aintree favourite delights Ted Walsh

'Over the moon' Christian Williams lands dream Eider Chase-Coral Trophy double

Analysis centre: 'We know he loves those fences' - Any Second Now enhances National claims

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