13:30 Cheltenham

Friday 13 March 2020

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

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 6.28s

Allmankind^h,t⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148| C

7/2

Has raced keenly during three-race winning sequence so far; smart ex-Flat performer went away from rivals (including Cerberus) nicely on heavy in Chepstow Grade 1 latest. Form boosted since but may not be allowed to lead.

Form: 111

Aspire Tower⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| BF

5/1

Another Flat recruit whose first two wins over hurdles were impressive, by a wide-margin in Leopardstown Grade 2 at Christmas. Fell back there since when being challenged and faces stiff competition for the lead.

Form: 11F

A Wave Of The Sea⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142

12/1

3-6 over hurdles, rallied strongly to overhaul stablemate Cerberus in Leopardstown Grade 1 last month after Aspire Tower had crashed out at the last. Will need more this time in all probability.

Form: 211231

Cerberus^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140

20/1

Couple of wins this season but passed up a golden Grade 1 chance last month when stablemate A Wave To The Sea swept by late after he inherited lead from final flight faller Aspire Tower; has 9L to find with Allmankind on Chepstow meeting.

Form: 21123

Goshen⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 151

5/2

Won his last three starts on the Flat by combined 28L and three easy wins from the front since going jumping having been hugely impressive. Possesses a serious engine and whatever goes by him - if anything - will likely win this.

Form: 111

Lord Lamington⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 135| D

100/1

Useful on the level for Mark Johnston and has a win and two seconds on his CV over timber so far; going up in class and must unlock plenty improvement to prevail in this hot line-up.

Form: 122

Navajo Pass⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 139| D

50/1

85-rated on the Flat and won a Bangor maiden on hurdles bow; held Lord Lamington in second to win what wasn't the strongest Grade 2 at Doncaster in December and off since. Can improve but would do well to find a place.

Form: 121

Never Do Nothing⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D J McInerney| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Earned a rating of 91 on the Flat and winning start over timber at Musselburgh in January; sent off 8-1 for Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last month and faded right out of it having tracked Aspire Tower on the front end.

Form: 16

Sir Psycho^p²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| D

16/1

Two Irish Flat runs suggested he's got talent and progressing nicely over hurdles with wins at Exeter and Haydock since January (form boosted since); stable also runs impressive Solo in this.

Form: 41411

Solo²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157| D

4/1

Heavy-ground winner in France and hugely impressive British debut when coming right away previous French Listed winner to take Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton. This track offers a much different test but champion trainer thinks plenty of him.

Form: 211

Yellow Tiger^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Loughnane| D

100/1

Won a Market Rasen contest last month on hurdles bow but made hard enough work of it in the end and has plenty more on his plate this time.

Form: 1

Burning Victory²⁰

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

12/1

Wasn't overly fancied in last month's stable bow in Grade 3 at Leopardstown but French Flat winner made winning start for Willie Mullins despite not jumping perfectly (stablemate Hook Up third). Improvement needed now.

Form: 1

Hook Up^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

33/1

Like stablemate Burning Victory was making debut for Willie Mullins in a Leopardstown Grade 3 last month; was shorter in betting but third that day sporting a tongue-tie (retained); needs big forward jump here.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Goshen (5/2), Allmankind (7/2), Solo (4/1), Aspire Tower (5/1), Burning Victory (12/1), A Wave Of The Sea (12/1), Sir Psycho (16/1), Cerberus (20/1), Hook Up (33/1), Navajo Pass (50/1), Never Do Nothing (100/1), Lord Lamington (100/1), Yellow Tiger (100/1)

What an opener on the final day, they certainly won't be hanging around with GOSHEN, Allmankind and Aspire Tower in attendance. The first-named has looked seriously impressive in his winning sequence and it's questionable if anything can go by him. He's likely to set a frantic pace and, seemingly, won't stop. The Skelton runner is preferred of the other pair, with Aspire Tower a last-time-out faller. Adonis winner Solo put in a very smart performance and Paul Nicholls thinks he's got a star in the making, but this will be run a lot differently and, as such, is another big test. Stablemate Sir Psycho is no back marker while Navajo Pass and Burning Times appeal at bigger prices.