Tutti Quanti runs rivals ragged to win William Hill Hurdle at Newbury

Harry Cobden was positive aboard Paul Nicholls’ charge despite his partner carrying the welter-burden of 12 stone and two out it was clear he had slipped his field.

Turning in a competitive handicap hurdle into a rout, the well-backed 10/3 chance came home in splendid isolation, winning by 15 lengths.

Wellington Arch (12/1) and Faivoir (33/1) filled the minor placings but this was a one-horse contest from some way out.

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Post-race reaction

Nicholls said: “He is the first horse ever to do that with that weight. We knew he had improved for his last run and we took him for an away day and he went very well. He has been one of those big backward horses that has been physically improving and getting better all the time. I still think there is more to come from him.

"He obviously likes that ground and he keeps galloping and travels well. It was a smart performance. He has improved massively from the last day. I was a little bit nervous as the record book says it is hard to win a race like this off twelve stone, but he has annihilated them. We weren’t really competitive in the Supreme, but he had a few little injuries last season but he is now becoming a real horse. The soft ground helps, and not many go through it like that, but it is amazing as he is hardly having a blow. He has got some engine.

"Turning in I thought they weren’t going to catch him. The great thing is you can sit in front on him and then go a good gallop early, then pull him up to give yourself a breather, and then kick on again. Harry rode him fantastically well and he is good on those types of horses. I’m thrilled.

“Colm and I have both said we could supplement him for the Champion Hurdle if we wanted to. The great thing about supplementing him is you haven’t got to do that until five or six days beforehand and by then you get a great idea of what the ground will be.

“If the ground was testing we might look at it. If the ground was good we wouldn’t. He would hold his own if the ground was like that. It is an open race this season and if the ground was testing he would want to be in there. I suspect sometime he will go chasing as he will be a smart two mile chaser. That will be his job, and we have always thought that, but let’s worry about that next season.

“Today has always been the target. We were going to put him in the County Hurdle, and a few of those other races, but we might just have a re-think if the ground was right for him. That has put has back into second in the trainers’ championship so we are Dan’s tail now. For what we have got we achieved a lot. We have got a good strike rate and good prizemoney.”

Winning owner Colm Donlon said: “I wasn’t expecting that I have to say. I know he is a soft ground horse and Paul had him well, but gosh that was pretty impressive. I’m genuinely blown away by that. I’ve had some good days racing, but I will have to watch that again and take a deep breath.

“To be fair I’m not sure if we know what we have because you don’t see horses do that very often. I know Paul targeted this race, and this is maybe his Cheltenham, and big race, but he did it so well. I’m lost for words.

“The Champion Hurdle is dreaming for another day. We did have that conversation just now, but that is a whole different level. We will have to take a pull and think about that, but it is possible. I would like to watch it again and see if I’m not dreaming.

“It is lovely to have a horse like this come along after Langer Dan. We will never forget Langer. He passed super peacefully in his barn. It couldn’t have happened in a better way and we can only hope we have another horse like him again. We will keep our fingers crossed it could be this one.”

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