JCB Triumph Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
Published on: 15/03/2019
JCB Triumph Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
March 15, 2018 13:30pm - Cheltenham
Distance: 2m 179y
Grade: 1
Runners: 14
Winner: £70,338.00 2nd: £26,500.00 3rd: £13,262.00 4th: £6,625.00 5th: £3,325.00 6th: £1,662.00 7th: £825.00 8th: £425.00
Going: Good (soft in places)
The final day gets underway with the showpiece event for juvenile hurdlers. Always a popular race, the Triumph Hurdle often excites and has seen many future Champions Hurdlers go past the winning post. Grand National winner Tiger Roll also triumphed here in 2014.
Last year`s renewal saw the Gordon Elliott-trained Farclas take the top prize to continue the recent trend for strong Irish performances in this race. This year, all eyes, and a lot of money, will be on the Joseph O`Brien entry Sir Erec.
After a Listed win on the flat at Limerick, he came a respectable third behind Stradivarius in a Group 2 at Ascot. He proved his jumping prowess in his first hurdle race at Leopardstown in December, beating Tiger Tap Tap by a neck without pushing too hard. His follow up at the Dublin Festival gave a better demonstration of his abilities as he blew away the field in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
He had six lengths to spare that day with Gardens Of Babylon, Surin and Tiger Tap Tap all trailing in his wake. That kind of performance cannot be ignored, hence the Even money price.
Stablemate Gardens Of Babylon is unlikely to reverse that result, but has been solid in his three starts so far. A winner on debut at Punchestown, he was narrowly beaten in his follow up at Fairyhouse before following Sir Erec home at Leopardstown. With prices as high as 11/1 available, he looks the best each-way pick.
JCB Triumph Hurdle Winners - past five years:
2014: Tiger Roll - Davy Russell (Gordon Elliott)
2015: Peace and Co - Barry Geraghty (Nicky Henderson)
2016: Ivanovich - Barry Geraghty (Aidan O`Brien)
2017: Defi du Seuil - Richard Johnson (Philip Hobbs)
2018: Farclas (4) - J W Kennedy (Gordon Elliott)
Latest Betting odds:
Sir Erec 7/4
Tiger Tap Tap 10/1
Quel Destin 10/1
Pic DOrhy 15/2
Gardens Of Babylon 11/1
Pentland Hills 20/1
Coeur Sublime 22/1
Adjali 22/1
50/1 bar
You can back Sir Erec to win at Evens and Gardens Of Babylon (E/W) at 11/1.
By Neil Morris
Published on: 15/03/2019
Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (15/03/2019 08:40:47) but are subject to change.
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