Huge entry for Triumph hurdle
A record number of 125 horses have been entered for the JCB Triumph Hurdle on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival on March 18.
The entries for the four-year-old championship are headed by the Alan King-trained Trouble At Bay, winner of his last four starts, most recently the Steel Plate Trial Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day.
Trouble At Bay is 8-1 favourite for the Triumph with Coral.
Other interesting entries include Mondul, who landed the Wragge & Co Finesse Junior Hurdle at the course last month, while the seven possibles from France include Val Du Don and Meryl, who finished second and third in that event.
Among the 38 Irish-trained entries is Hasanpour, who carries the same Gay Smith colours worn to victory by Spectroscope in last year’s renewal.
Charlie Swan’s charge, bought for 150,000 guineas (€220,000) at Tattersalls Sales in October, scored by 10 lengths on his hurdling debut at Cork on January 18.
There are a string of other expensive purchases entered including the Howard Johnson-trained Astronomic and Rayshan, bought on behalf of his big-spending patron Graham Wylie respectively for 190,000gns (€280,000) and 140,000gns (€204,000) and yet to run over hurdles.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Englishtown, who cost 130,000gns (€190,000), is also untested over jumps.
Better is expected from the Paul Nicholls-trained Kjetil, who cost €170,000 at Goffs France but was only fifth on his debut.
The Festival’s opening race on Tuesday, the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has attracted 106 entries, while the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle, run 24 hours later, has 113.
O’Neill’s Lingo is currently favourite at around 5-1 for the Supreme following his success in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.
Irish-trained horses have won four of the last five runnings of the race.
The 30-strong entry from Ireland this time includes Mariah Rollins, winner of the Future Champion Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
There are also three entries from France and one from Germany.
Smurfit Champion Hurdle entry Inglis Drever is also in in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle, for which he is Coral’s 4-1 favourite following three impressive wins.
His possible rivals include the 2003 Weatherbys Champion Bumper second Trabolgan.
The Nicholls-trained Cornish Rebel could take on his year-younger half-brother Inexorable, winner of his last three starts in Ireland.
Both horses are also siblings of dual Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate.
Ireland’s 35 entries also includes Watson Lake, winner of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.
The maximum number of runners for each of these three championship races drops this year to 24 from 28 following a pre-season review of safety factors.
Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham, commented: “The championship novice hurdles begin each day of the National Hunt Festival in great fashion and we look forward to three exciting events this year.”
