Racecards
13:30 Cheltenham
JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 179y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £130,630 added
- Winner: £73,506
- 2nd: £27,694
- 3rd: £13,860
- 4th: £6,923
- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
led, joined before 2 out, ridden and headed turning in, readily outpaced by leader and 10 lengths down when left with every chance last, edged right and kept on flat, no extra when lost 2nd near finish
- Form 11F
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
went left 1st, raced keenly, tracked leader to 5th, remained close up in 3rd, switched wide after 3 out, outpaced by front pair after next, ridden and one pace when left with every chance and went left last, stayed on to take 2nd near finish
- Form 211231
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey B J Geraghty
mid-division, pushed along to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, kept on under pressure flat, no impression
- Form 21123
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M P Walsh
held up behind, blundered 5th, headway under pressure between last 2, soon ridden, kept on flat, never reached leaders
Goshen (FR)
55- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
tacked front pair, went close 2nd at 5th, challenged before 2 out, led and quickened readily clear turning in, came towards stands side rail soon after, 10 lengths clear and looked in no danger when blundered and unseated rider last
- Form 122
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Tom Cannon
always behind, outpaced after 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 121
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders on inside, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, rallied into 4th after last, kept on, not reach leaders
- Form 16
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey D J McInerney
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, ridden before last, weakened flat
- Form 41411
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Bryony Frost
in touch, driven after 2 out, no impression when left disputing 4th at last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach leaders
- Form 211
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, ridden and one pace before last, weakened flat
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D Loughnane
- Jockey Alain Cawley
always towards rear, struggling in rear after 3 out, tailed off next
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
held up behind, headway on outside after 2 out, stayed on into 2nd and 10 lengths down when left in narrow lead last, ridden out flat, stayed on well towards finish
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
held up behind on inside, struggling 2 out, soon weakened
Verdict
Several trainers won’t hear of defeat for their charges so this may be a particularly hot renewal. SOLO is the only one of these who didn’t run on the Flat. He was tremendously impressive when making a winning UK debut in the Adonis at Kempton and could be anything. A similar comment applies to fellow French import Burning Victory, who was having a first run since June last year when beating stablemate Hook Up and eight others in a Fairyhouse Grade 3. Aspire Tower was alongside eventual winner A Wave Of The Sea at Leopardstown when falling at the last and Goshen has won his three races by an average of 23 lengths and looks a real find but he may have to find an extra gear against these. Allmankind is a free-going sort but he’s improved with every run and easily beat Cereberus in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas. He was just about the best of these on the level and his pace could be an asset but he won’t get an easy ride up front.
Formwatch
Allmankind 6-5fav (11-0) Raced keenly, made all, not fluent 5th, clear after 5th until 2 out, clear again last, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Chepstow 2m (1) hvy in Dec beating Cerberus (11-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Aspire Tower (IRE) 1-3fav (11-0) Led, took keen hold, slight mistake 4th, pushed along entering straight, joined before last, challenged but with every chance disputing lead when fell at last, at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Towards rear, closer 6th 2 out, went 4th and pushed along entering straight, ridden in 3rd when left 2nd at last, headway to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Wolf Prince (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Cerberus 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold early, mistake 3rd, headway into 2nd entering straight, pushed along to disputed lead before last, ridden at last where left in front, found little inside final furlong and headed, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind A Wave Of The Sea (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Goshen (FR) 1-5fav (11-8) Led, headed and not fluent 4th, led 5th, clear when jumped right 2 out and last, eased flat, won at Ascot 2m (3) hvy in Jan beating Nordano (11-8) by 11l, 5 ran.
Lord Lamington 6-4 (11-4) Held up tracking leaders, smooth headway on outside before 2 out, ridden in 3rd between last 2, went 2nd run-in, stayed on same pace, never able to challenge, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Goa Lil (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Navajo Pass 10-3 (10-12) Made all, hit 3 out, ridden between last 2, over 2 lengths ahead when hit last and stumbled on landing, ridden clear run-in, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating Lord Lamington (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Never Do Nothing (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and dropped to 3rd 2 out, weakened, 6th of 10, dist behind A Wave Of The Sea (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Sir Psycho (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Soon led, headed after 3rd, led next, headed after 6th, led 3 out, clear flat, easily, won at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Feb beating Rockadenn (11-6) by 8 1/2l, 6 ran.
Solo (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led after 4th, clear before 2 out, went further clear before last, impressive, won at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb beating Fujimoto Flyer (10-10) by 13l, 9 ran.
Yellow Tiger (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch on inside, went close 2nd before 2 out, driven when hit last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb beating Flint Hill (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Burning Victory (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Towards rear, not fluent 1st and slow 4th, slight mistake 3 out, some headway early straight, progress between horses to lead last where not fluent, ridden and kept on well to assert final 100 yards, won at Fairyhouse 2m (1) hvy in Feb beating Great Bear (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Hook Up (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, good headway on outer after 3 out and travelled well to lead next, soon pushed along and headed last, ridden and no extra run-in, 3rd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Burning Victory (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) hvy in Feb.