JCB Triumph Hurdle â Analysis
The JCB Triumph Hurdle is the highlight of the season for four-year-old hurdlers and 58
entries have been received for the two-mile contest which takes place on Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 15.
Nicky Henderson has the best record of any trainer, saddling five winners since 1985, and this year the Lambourn handler has five contenders headed by Rolling Star. The French import made an exciting British debut when readily dispatching of Irish Saint in the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, January 26. Hendersonâs other possibles are Alexandre Six, Courtesy Call, Megalypos and Vasco Du Ronceray.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has assembled a good team of juveniles this term headed by dual Cheltenham winner Far West and Irish Saint. The former has won his three starts in Britain by an aggregate of just under 13 lengths. Nicholls is also responsible for Listed scored Sametegal, Brinestine, Caid Du Berlais and Lac Fontana.
John Quinn captured last seasonâs JCB Triumph Hurdle with Countrywide Flame and the Malton handlerâs three possibles this year are Kashmir Peak, who won a Grade Two contest a Doncaster decisively on December 15, Calculated Risk and impressive
Wetherby winner Hidden Justice.
Swnymor could be Tim Vaughanâs best chance of a Festival winner yet after making an
eye-catching start to his hurdling career. Formerly trained by William Haggas, he won
nicely on his hurdling debut at Newbury before crashing out at the last when looking the
likely winner of the Grade One Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow.
That race went the way of John Fergusonâs Ruacana, who had also scored comfortably on debut at Catterick.
Alan King has done well with his juvenile hurdlers in the past and has four JCB Triumph
Hurdle contenders this year with the most accomplished of his quartet being the filly,
LâUnique. She won a Listed race by 12 lengths her British debut before an equally
comfortable success at Kempton Park on January 12, while stable companions King Of
Dudes and Seventh Sign have won juvenile hurdles at Ludlow and Newbury respectively.
Our Conor, trained by Dessie Hughes, heads 15 Irish entries after easy wins in a maiden hurdle at Navan and a Grade Three at Fairyhouse in early December.
Irish champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins is responsible for seven entries including dual
winners Diakali and Blood Cotil.