The JCB Triumph Hurdle Tips – Cheltenham Festival Day Four, 13:30

The JCB Triumph Hurdle is a race for four-year-olds only and they take in eight jumps over two miles. This race was taken hostage by the Irish last year as they not only won it the third year in a row but the first five home were all trained by Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott. Vauban came out on top beating a useful field including the likes of Fil D’Or, Pied Piper and It Etait Temps.

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Statistics-wise favourites have a disappointing record in the race and have only won four times within the last decade. Six of the last eight winners have used Leopardstown as a warm-up for this race (Vauban, Quilixios, Farclas, Ivanovich Gorbatov, Tiger Roll and Our Conor). All of the last ten winners had their previous run within fifty-five days of this race. No French horse has won this since Snow Drop in 2000. Of the home contingent, Nicky Henderson has won the race four times in the last twenty years and two of those came within the last six (Peace And Co and Pentland Hills). Five of the last six winners of this race won last time out.

Below are selected runners competing for Triumph Hurdle. I shall provide some recent form notes to help point you in the right direction of identifying the winner.

Lossiemouth

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend

Was rather unfortunate at Leopardstown as she was given a brutal ride at the back of the field. When given the office to mount a challenge, her stablemate Jourdefete actually drifted back on top of her and she lost any sort of chance. It was left to another stablemate in Gala Marceau to pick up the prize as a consequence. This will likely attract a big field so she cannot afford to find herself in a similar position. Whether that has any bearing on how she runs here is anyone’s guess. Her class may shine through.

Gala Marceau

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Danny Mullins

Jumped well in the main and enjoyed better fortune when beating Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival. He certainly wasn’t stopping on the run to the line and whether she would have beaten him with better luck in running will always be open to scrutiny. Gala Marceau improved markedly from his first run and is likely to improve further going forward. He has to have every chance of lining up here and looks to be a major player.

Blood Destiny

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mr P W Mullins

Made all the running in a facile win at Punchestown back in January beating Common Practice by eighteen lengths. He is clearly a very useful sort and it was a clear improvement on what he had shown previously when winning at Cork. Paul Townend will find it a difficult choice between the Mullins trio and you have to respect his decision either way. Blood Destiny carries the familiar colours of the great Florida Pearl and it would be great to see them back in the winner’s enclosure at the Festival.

Zenta

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mark Walsh

Completely unexposed and is now two from two over hurdles for her canny handler. As a filly she receives weight from her male counterparts and having won a Grade Three race on her most recent start, it would be foolish to dismiss her claims. Running in the familiar colours of JP McManus, she could well be anything and is of interest.

Jupiter Du Gite

Trainer: Gary Moore
Jockey: Niall Houlihan

Caught the eye when winning on their debut at Newbury back in December. He came here for a trial a few weeks ago over the course and distance and was ultimately put in his place. That was particularly disappointing and he is unlikely to trouble the Irish battalion in this.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle Key Trends

9 of the past 14 winners were unbeaten

6 of the past 8 winners started their careers in France

7 of the last 10 winners have been trained in Ireland

The JCB Triumph Hurdle Tips

Lossiemouth can atone for a luckless run at the Dublin Racing Festival and Paul Townend’s decision to ride her over her stablemates has to be respected. As a filly, she receives a very handy pull in the weight with her male counterparts and that could make a lot of difference. The most pressure is likely to come from stablemate Blood Destiny, who will most likely try and make all once more.

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All odds are correct at the time of writing.