Cheltenham Festival: JCB Triumph Hurdle Tips

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Kicking off the fourth and final day of the Festival is the Triumph Hurdle, where the top juveniles of the season fight it to see who is the champion 4yo. Over the years, this race has found some decent horses for the future, with Tiger Roll, Defi Du Seuil to name a couple. This race does look like it will produce a couple of potential superstars who will play a part in the Novice Chase races and even Championship races for next year.

The race looks set to be dominated by the Irish, and you can see why, as on paper, their form is head and shoulders above the rest. At the start of the season, FIL DOR was on the lips of everyone and had ante-post backers all over him, but after racking up a sequence of three wins, he was then put in his place by VAUBAN at Leopardstown just over a month ago. Vauban looked good that day, and it’s difficult to see a reverse in that form, even though the runner-up does look a stronger stayer and will enjoy the conditions, so I wouldn’t put you off from backing him EW. Davy Russell has probably had the choice between him and PIED PIPER, as he rode both, and he’s often for Fil Dor, which is interesting.

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Speaking about Pied Piper, this decent flat horse once owned by The Queen, has become a revelation over hurdles for Gordon Elliott. He is currently 2/2 over obstacles and his run at Cheltenham on trials day was very impressive. He won at a canter, and thought he did look good, the form of that race doesn’t look amazing. He did manage to beat Vauban on hurdles debut earlier in the season, but I’d be pretty confident that the Mullins horse could reverse that form. With that being said, you can’t underestimate his course form and how impressive he was.

From the rest, I think IL ETAIT TEMPS could be worth playing at an EW price. He made his first start for Willie Mullins at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 won by Vauban, and Fil Dor finishing runner-up. For a stable debut, I think that is as good as you’re going to get in a graded race. Before that he hadn’t been seen for 200+ days, so was entitled to need the run, and based on his performance I think the ground and this track will play to his strengths. I’d be fairly confident that he was under-cooked for that race, with this being the main target, so for him to look tapped for speed, but to stay on again towards the end was eye-catching.

The British don’t come into this without a few chances, but in my opinion, they’ll have to improve by quite a margin. I’d be surprised if KNIGHT SALUTE runs on this ground, even though we’re expecting no rain from now (Thursday midday) to the time of Friday’s racing, I’d imagine the ground will be tacky. I think he is a good horse, a speedy horse, so I think an Aintree would suit him better. I understand he’s a course and distance winner, but the form of that race is very weak in comparison, so it means nothing in my opinion.

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If TEDDY BLUE jumped the last better at Kempton, I think he would’ve potentially beat Knight Salute, so that’s another reason to be against him. As for the Gary Moore horse, the ground might be a worry for him also, he got bogged down on heavy on hurdles debut, and though this ground will be quicker, it will still be stamina testing.

PORTICELLO needs it bottomless and looks like a real stayer to my eyes. I really like this horse, and I beg they keep him over hurdles next year and prep him to go for the Stayers’ because I think he’ll hack up. That’s a big call, but I think this lad is built for that race, and for that reason he might struggle in this. He’s a lovely horse, and will stay up the hill strongly, but might not have the necessary speed.

DOCTOR PARNASSUS might get some punter’s money, as he has an interesting profile, a bit of a mystery profile. He’s won a couple of egg and spoon races but has looked good in doing so. He shares a similar profile to Pentland Hills when he won this race at 20/1 after running at Huntingdon. Different tracks for prep, but similar vibes.

JCB Triumph Hurdle Tips

• Il Etait Temps 10/1 (Each Way) @ The Pools

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No

Silks

Runner

Jockey/Trainer

Odds

5

Il Etait Temps
5-23

J: D E Mullins
T: W P Mullins

8/15

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12

Vauban
21

J: P Townend
T: W P Mullins

4/6

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4

Icare Allen
1151

J: M P Walsh
T: W P Mullins

10/3

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7

Koi Dodville
11346

J: T Scudamore
T: D Pipe

7/2

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2

Doctor Parnassus
11

J: Harry Skelton
T: D Skelton

5/1

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10

Porticello
1-1211

J: J E Moore
T: G L Moore

13/2

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3

Fil Dor
1112

J: J W Kennedy
T: G Elliott

7/1

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11

Teddy Blue
22

J: Joshua Moore
T: G L Moore

9/1

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6

Knight Salute
11111

J: P J Brennan
T: M F Harris

10/1

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9

Pied Piper
11

J: D N Russell
T: G Elliott

14/1

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8

Lunar Power
8122

J: S W Flanagan
T: N Meade

25/1

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1

Ages Of Man
73

J: Jonathan Moore
T: A McCann

33/1

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