13:30 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2023

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Weighed In

Off time: 13:33 | Winning time: 4m 6.94s

Active Duty²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: B Pauling| OR: 117| BF

250/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat (stays 1½m) in Ireland. Fair start over hurdles for new yard this year but looks totally up against it in this.

Form: 343

Almuhit³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D Meyler| T: D Hogan| OR: 117

300/1

Useful Flat winner who had hinted at temperament in that code and ran a moody race sporting blinkers for the first time in this sphere at Naas last month. Little appeal in this company.

Form: 6266

Ascending⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 129

14/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Clive Cox who made a promising start in this sphere when second in big-field Leopardstown contest over Christmas, but no match for Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth in Grade 1 there last time and vulnerable here after that.

Form: 24

Blood Destiny⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| D

3/1

Has made a very good start over hurdles for new yard, scoring at Cork and Fairyhouse (still novicey with his jumping but bolted up in good time). He won't get away with too many mistakes here but he's clearly a top prospect.

Form: 2-11

Gust Of Wind⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins

22/1

Useful form when landing newcomers' hurdle at Auteuil in September and shaped as if better for run behind stablemate Gala Marceau and co in Leopardstown Grade 1 last month. Can improve but is down the Willie Mullins' pecking order in this.

Form: 15

Hypotenus^h,t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: J C McConnell

40/1

Useful on the Flat in France and was a €215,000 buy for connections before shaping well behind Zenta on hurdles debut at Fairyhouse 3 weeks ago fitted with hood/tongue strap. Should improve but this is a big step up.

Form: 2

Jacovec Cavern^h²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: S W Flanagan| T: P Hennessy| OR: 110

300/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who hasn't matched that in 3 runs over hurdles for new yard this year and can't be fancied in this company.

Form: 606

Jipcot²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 127| D

50/1

Fairly useful improving winner over hurdles in France, seeking a hat-trick starting out for new connections but has plenty to find to get in the mix.

Form: 240U11

Jupiter Du Gite^h⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan| T: G L Moore

66/1

Caused a major upset when making all on British/hurdles debut at Newbury in December but proved far too free and well beaten in the Trial over C&D 7 weeks ago, jumping well but a spent force by the home turn. Could do better but clearly a bit of a handful.

Form: 3-16

Rightsotom¹²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: J B Foley| T: T Mullins

200/1

Shaped well behind another good prospect from the Willie Mullins stable in Fairyhouse event in November. Open to progress but this surely beyond him on just his second start.

Form: 2

Cinsa⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins

200/1

Fairly useful form in a couple of races over hurdles 10 months apart (trained in France on debut), not knocked about behind Gala Marceau and co in Leopardstown Grade 1 last month. More to come but others from her yard way more likely here.

Form: 4-6

Gala Marceau^h1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

10/3

Two from 2 over hurdles in France and has made a fine start for new connections, finding just Lossiemouth too good at Leopardstown at Christmas then turning the tables on her back there 6 weeks ago, seen to much better effect but also keen and seeing things out well. Big player with hood fitted.

Form: 1-121

Je Garde¹⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins

80/1

Made a promising start when third behind a couple of subsequent winners in Auteuil event in October. Joined top connections and likely to improve but she looks up against it here.

Form: 3

Lossiemouth⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| BF

11/8

Saw off Gala Marceau in good style in Leopardstown Grade 2 at Christmas and would surely have made it 4-4 but for meeting significant interference just as things were hotting up back there last month, her old rival not for catching in the end. More to come and can get back to winning ways.

Form: 1-112

Zenta²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| D

12/1

Made it 2-2 over hurdles (first start for new connections) when seeing off Hypotenus in Fairyhouse Grade 3 recently, still looking rough around the edges. Better to come and she's one of the more tempting Mullins' outsiders.

Form: 11

Forecasts

Lossiemouth (11/8), Blood Destiny (3/1), Gala Marceau (10/3), Zenta (12/1), Ascending (14/1), Gust Of Wind (22/1), Hypotenus (40/1), Jipcot (50/1), Jupiter Du Gite (66/1), Je Garde (80/1), Rightsotom (200/1), Cinsa (200/1), Active Duty (250/1), Jacovec Cavern (300/1), Almuhit (300/1)

LOSSIEMOUTH looks one of the best seen in this division for several years and would be unbeaten had she got better luck behind Gala Marceau at Leopardstown. She can improve further and make it 2-1 against her stablemate who is also capable of better and won't go down easily now fitted a hood. Blood Destiny needs to cut out the mistakes but is another very exciting juvenile and can make it another 1-2-3 this week for Willie Mullins.