13:30 Cheltenham

Friday 15 March 2019

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

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:37 | Winning time: 4m 4.33s

Adjali⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| BF| D

16/1

Looked potentially smart in France and made winning debut for this yard at Market Rasen in December. Only narrowly denied in subsequent Grade 1 at Chepstow (2m, soft) but well held here on Trials Day (third) behind Supreme fourth Fakir D'oudairies.

Form: 21-3123

Authorizo^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF

50/1

French Flat import, won a Fairyhouse maiden in good style on debut for connections but well held (third) in a Grade 3 back there (2m, good) next time. Plenty more on his plate now, though any rain may be a help.

Form: 13

Coeur Sublime²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| BF

20/1

Down Royal maiden winner in November and went close in Fairyhouse Grade 3 (2m, good) next time. Confidence knocked by Leopardstown fall at Christmas, poor effort in Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park last month (2m, yielding to soft, 2-1jf).

Form: 12F4

Ecco²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls

100/1

Good enough to contest Group races on final two starts in Germany although not quite up to that level. Proved no match for Fusil Raffles in Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton last month on hurdles bow; that was a stiff ask first time out and this is more so.

Form: 6

Gardens of Babylon^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145

9/1

Well-bred sort who was impressive when winning on hurdles/yard debut at Punchestown (2m, good) in December. Form reversed with runner-up next time, then improved to be 6L second to stablemate Sir Erec in Leopardstown Grade 1. Better form than most.

Form: 122

Hannon^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: J C McConnell| OR: 133

25/1

Winner at Musselburgh on New Year's Day in maiden company and then improved to be second behind Chosen Mate in Naas Grade 2 last month (2m, good to yielding). That might not be the strongest graded form on offer and untested on slow ground.

Form: 212

Nelson River⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 134| CD

66/1

Moderate performer on the Flat but has looked a different proposition over hurdles, with a win over C&D (good) in December in a trial for this contest. Likely didn't run his race on Trials Day in January and could bounce back, must jump cleaner.

Form: 116

Pentland Hills¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

20/1

Very easy winner of Plumpton maiden hurdle last month (2m, good) from The Flying Sofa (down the field in Supreme here on Tuesday). Open to plenty progress now and could have a say for trainer with excellent record in this race.

Form: 1

Pic D'Orhy^t1¹³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149

12/1

Boasts some very promising graded form in France and has joined top British yard (amongst winners this week). Noted that he is pitched in at the deep end on first run and could be capable of a big effort, though stable jockey goes elsewhere.

Form: 1-21F22

Quel Destin²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| C| D

4/1

Now 5-8 over hurdles and a three-time graded winner. Experience will stand to him in this contest; didn't need to improve when winning four-runner Haydock contest last month where market rival flopped. Will act on any ground, has proved gutsy.

Form: 211111

Runrized⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

66/1

Authorized gelding, twice-raced on the Flat in France (showing ability) before departing to join champion jumps trainer in Ireland. Couldn't justify favouritism in Naas maiden hurdle on debut in January and needs a major step forward now.

Form: 4

Sir Erec⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 151

11/10

Group 2-placed on the Flat at Ascot in October behind Stradivarius and quickly taken to hurdling. Never headed in Grade 1 Spring Juvenile at Leopardstown last month, with a few of these behind. Exciting prospect, growing reputation precedes him now.

Form: 11

Tiger Tap Tap⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

7/1

Flat winner in France and made an encouraging start for this yard when only narrowly denied by Sir Erec at Christmas. More comprehensively beaten by that rival since in Grade 1 Spring Juvenile at Leopardstown last month, when only fourth.

Form: 24

French Made⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

40/1

Mare won a Clonmel maiden hurdle on debut in January (2m½f, good to yielding) in good style, with three winners coming from the beaten horses since. Open to plenty improvement upped significantly in grade, but will need it.

Form: 21

Forecasts

Sir Erec (11/10), Quel Destin (4/1), Tiger Tap Tap (7/1), Gardens of Babylon (9/1), Pic D'Orhy (12/1), Adjali (16/1), Pentland Hills (20/1), Coeur Sublime (20/1), Hannon (25/1), French Made (40/1), Authorizo (50/1), Nelson River (66/1), Runrized (66/1), Ecco (100/1)

Joseph O'Brien's team of juvenile hurdlers has real strength, as witnessed on Wednesday, and SIR EREC has long been touted as the pick of them. He won a Grade 1 trial for this last time without seeing a rival and should be versatile enough to come from off a decent pace now to give his handler a second (first official) Triumph win. Stablemate Gardens Of Babylon could be one of the principle threats, while Tiger Tap Tap is a another contender to give Ireland a fifth success in seven years. The gutsy Quel Destin leads a home team that also includes unexposed contenders like Pic D'Orhy, Pentland Hills – the latter's trainer having six wins in this.