Triumph Hurdle Tips & Predictions
The Triumph Hurdle is the championship race for four-year-olds at the Cheltenham Festival -and a titanic battle looks sure to ensue.
It is a race that has been dominated in recent years by Willie Mullins, who has won four of the last five runnings with the likes of Lossiemouth and Majborough. It can be a springboard for useful two-mile chasers.
A field of 18 will go to post for Friday's 13:20 race. Here are three to keep in mind, including one at huge odds.
NAP: Hello Neighbour @ 5/1
Irish trainers have dominated the Triumph Hurdle in recent years, and it looks like that is set to continue with the Gavin Cromwell-trained Hello Neighbour.
The four-year-old son of Harzand showed good ability on the Flat, winning a Navan maiden before comfortably landing a rated race by three lengths from an 85-rated rival.
It speaks of the regard in which he is held that he made his hurdling debut in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown in December, when his jumping was sloppy, and he didn’t settle all that well - but still won.
That was a sign that we might be dealing with a very good horse and, with a more assured pace to aim at, he travelled like a very good horse when winning a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival.
That race has provided the last four winners of the Triumph and this improver, who only seems to do enough, is overpriced.
NB: East India Dock @ 15/8
James Owen has had a fantastic season with his juvenile hurdlers and saddled Liam Swagger to finish third in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on the opening day of the festival.
East India Dock showed useful form on Flat when trained by James Fanshawe, ending his time with that trainer rated 89.
The four-year-old has done nothing but improve since switching to hurdling for Owen, winning all three of his starts by a combined 32 lengths.
He was very impressive when landing a Grade 2 on the Old course in November, going clear at the last before powering up the run in, and the same connections won that with Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle runner-up Burdett Road last year.
He produced arguably an even better performance when switched to the New course last time, and his blend of speed and stamina, alongside his uncomplicated nature, makes him a really solid option in this contest.
Also consider: Mondo Man @ 14/1
Gary Moore probably won’t want to be reminded of Goshen falling at the last hurdle when well clear in this race in 2020, but hopefully, Mondo Man can make up for his stablemate’s mistake.
Good Flat horses have become commonplace on the jumping scene, but you’d scarcely see one who was capable of Group 1-level form.
That’s exactly what we have in Mondo Man, who was beaten four lengths into fifth in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in June.
He followed that with a fine fourth at Royal Ascot 19 days later, staying on from well off the pace behind Calandagan in the King Edward VII Stakes.
He hasn’t got off the mark in two starts over hurdles, but he travelled brilliantly when second to Lulamba on his debut for new connections at Ascot in January and was just too keen last time.
Moore has opted for a first-time hood and if that helps him settle, there is no doubt he has the form to feature at a huge price.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation