Promising Pileon Kicks Off Double For Yeats

A step up in trip proved just the trick for Pileon (6g Yeats - Heath Heaven, by Alflora), as the Philip Hobbs-trained bay gained his first win over hurdles at Catterick on Friday.

A bumper winner last season, the bay was sent off favourite following a promising fourth on hurdle debut behind the talented Chantry House (Yeats) over two miles and one furlong. Stepping up by two and a half furlongs, he tracked the leader under Richard Johnson, who pushed him to lead approaching two out. Ridden approaching the final flight, he kept on well to win by six and a half lengths.

Johnson later commented, “Pileon is a nice young horse, who was very promising at Cheltenham first time.” Owned by Tim Syder and Martin St Quinton, Pileon was bought after finishing second in a point-to-point for Tom Keating.

Bred by P Hennessy, he completed the first leg of a double on the card for Castlehyde Stud sire Yeats, whose son Little Bruce (8g Yeats - Lady Rolfe, by Alzao) took the North Yorkshire Gran National that afternoon.

Carrying top weight, the Philip Kirby-trained bay was sent off favourite and won the three mile and six furlong test by three lengths. Friday provided the bay with his third career win over fences, while he has also won four times over hurdles. Bred by Cathal Ennis, he is closely related to the talented mare Feathard Lady, also known as the dam of Grade 1 winner Augusta Kate (Yeats).