Pied Piper or Knight Salute: who will claim victory in a classic trilogy?

Saturday: 2.40 Cheltenham
Masterson Holdings Hurdle | 2m½f | 4yo | ITV4/RTV

Pied Piper and Knight Salute fought out one of the most controversial finishes of last season when they dead-heated in a Grade 1 at Aintree. Knight Salute was awarded the race in the stewards’ room, but the interference took place at the last and it looked harsh on Pied Piper.

Pied Piper travelled like the best horse throughout that race and rider Davy Russell appeared to get there too soon. That’s dangerous against a horse like Knight Salute, who proved himself tough as nails last season and relished the opportunity to chase Pied Piper down.

Knight Salute did just that to prove his previous Triumph Hurdle disappointment, when he was more than 17 lengths behind Pied Piper, all wrong and this is a trilogy, not a rematch. The score is officially 1-1, but 1½-½ in Pied Piper’s favour is probably a fairer reflection.

Gordon Elliott saddled Bayan to finish second in this race in 2013 and went one better with the great Tiger Roll the following year. Those are his only two runners in the last ten seasons.

Doctor Parnassus finished more than eight lengths ahead of Knight Salute, but nine lengths behind Pied Piper in the Triumph Hurdle, and he needs to bounce back after taking a big backwards step when 20 lengths behind Knappers Hill in a hot novice handicap at Sandown in April.

Joseph O’Brien has a 17 per cent strike-rate with four-year-old hurdlers and saddles an interesting contender in Bella Scintilla.

She ran seven times in France, including over fences on three occasions, and made a successful start for O’Brien when landing a mares’ maiden hurdle at Killarney this month. She has lots to find with the principals, but is unexposed and open to plenty of improvement.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Knight Salute primed for round three

It is easy to see this as a head-to-head. Pied Piper versus Knight Salute, round three, ding ding. But Milton Harris, trainer of the latter, is not so sure.

Pied Piper, who is likely to be favourite, finished more than 17 lengths in front of Knight Salute when third in the Triumph. The pair dead-heated at Aintree, only for Knight Salute, a best-priced 5-2 for this, to be awarded the race in the stewards' room. He is a Grade 1 winner and Pied Piper was clearly Grade 1 calibre.

On the third act of the trilogy, Harris said: "Hopefully it'll be a good spectacle for the racing public. My horse is fit, healthy and well, so let's hope it's a good race.

"He's improved since last year. He seems in a really good place and it's on the Old course which I think will suit him. I'm very happy with him."

Thanks to their achievements last season the big two consequently have 8lb penalties to carry, and Harris believes that brings at least two others into contention.

The Dan Skelton-trained Doctor Parnassus, who finished two places and eight lengths in front of Knight Salute in the Triumph and is a general 6-1 shot, and Joseph O'Brien's recent recruit Bella Scintilla, who is a best-priced 9-1, are not out of the reckoning.

Harris added: "I suspect Dan's horse is not out of it, he gets 8lb, and Joseph's is getting 15lb with the fillies' allowance. I think for most of the horses in this field, particularly ourselves and Pied Piper with the penalties, this will tell us where we should be going for the rest of the season."

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Pied Piper
He's a strong-traveller and a slick jumper who ran some big races last season. He ran well in the Triumph Hurdle and then again at Aintree. He ran some race in the Ascot Stakes, but was just too keen. There's a big race on the Flat in him, but he should do well over hurdles this season and we might come back to Down Royal for the WKD Hurdle in a fortnight's time if all goes well. This looks a good starting point for him for the season.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Doctor Parnassus
It's a really hot race. You've got two of the top juvenile hurdlers from last year and we weren't a back-number. We get 8lb off them this time which should bring us a bit closer. We're fit and we've had this race in mind all summer so we're ready to go.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Bella Scintilla
She's a very nice filly who has come from France with a good deal of experience, including over fences. The first two finished a very long way in front of the others when she won a maiden hurdle at Killarney, and it was a lovely way to get her started.
Reporting by Stuart Riley

Saturday previews:

2.05 Cheltenham: 'He was unlucky not to win last year' - who fancies their chances at Cheltenham?

3.15 Cheltenham: Can course regular Editeur Du Gite notch yet another Cheltenham victory?

3.35 Doncaster: 'We want to run' - but O'Brien wary of ground for hot favourite Auguste Rodin

3.50 Cheltenham: Can Charles Byrnes and son strike another blow for the Irish with Shoot First?

Newbury: 'It looks like a race he can win' - Hamish out to give Haggas another St Simon

Leopardstown: Hippodrome looks main hope as Aidan O'Brien targets 12th Eyrefield Stakes

The Racing Post fully supports Safer Gambling Week and acknowledges it as an excellent opportunity for us all to reflect on whether we keep our gambling in check. Although Safer Gambling Week is only seven days, its message is ongoing and remains important. We have lots of resources available on our dedicated Safer Gambling page and more details can be found at safergamblinguk.org.