Pittori justifies strong market support

PITTORI followed-up his recent hurdling debut win over course and distance when justifying strong support in the featured Grade 3 Visit punchestown.com Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

The Charles Byrnes-trained son of Peintre Celebre, backed into 1/2 favouritism, outpointed Doctor Deejay in the hands of Paul Carberry and is a best-priced 33/1 shot (Paddy Power) for the JCB Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Carberry made his move soon after halfway on the Paddy Wilmot-owned winner, improving from the rear to press the eventual runner-up and, although there was little between the pair jumping the last, the winner was more fluent and outstayed his rival on the run-in, scoring by a length and three-quarters.