Charlie Longsdon's most prolific season so far has now delivered a first major winner as a back-to-form Paintball ran away with the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.
After establishing himself among the most promising of the younger trainers, phase two of Longsdon's plan is to start achieving at the big meetings and with Paintball (20-1) now qualified for a £75,000 bonus if he makes the cut at Cheltenham next week, he has the chance of quickly ticking something else off the to-do list.
The Listed handicap hurdle had been on Paintball's agenda since he was given a breathing operation in December and after creeping along in mid-division for Noel Fehily, he hit the front at the last and steamed four and a half lengths clear of long-time leader Nampour.
"We had a nice winner in the Doncaster Sales bumper at Newbury last weekend but this betters it," said Longsdon, whose current total of 57 winners has easily exceeded his best from five previous seasons with a licence.
"We can go into Cheltenham with a smile on our faces now. We've had plenty of winners but we haven't had the big Saturday winners yet, so I'm delighted."
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