THE Tony Carroll-trained Nelson River maintained his unbeaten record since switching codes with a JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle win at Cheltenham.

Having hit a flat-spot in the two-mile-one-furlong prize, Carroll’s Cropthorne charge picked up long-time leader Katpoli and Fanfan Du Seuil up the run-in before defeating the latter by a length to add to his Bangor victory last month.

Following the race the winner was introduced at 40-1 for the Triumph Hurdle with Sky Bet.

Carroll said of the 6-1 victor: “It was not a surprise as he is a nice horse. He stays well and he has taken to jumping. He is a young horse and really he has had not much racing.

“The horse is still learning. He is a horse that is moving forward and has a bright future.

“Of course they would like to come back for the Festival. This was a day to see where we were. He is a lovely horse but they’ve still got to do it on the track.

“It was tough out there for juveniles and he has done really well.”