Paul Nicholls got off to a flying start this Saturday afternoon with 2 wins and a third. Celestial Halo started the day by landing the Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park, seeing off Desert Cry by two and a half lengths.
Violin Davis then followed on and completed a quick-fire, cross-card double for Paul shortly afterwards, the mare putting in a career best effort to win the Grade 2 Warfield Hurdle at Ascot under a very good ride from Ruby Walsh.
However the most anticipated Nicholls runner of the weekend was arguably Al Ferof, who finished a fantastic third in the Grade 1 VC Chase at Ascot recording the best performance by any novice this season.