The Triumph Hurdle is the ultimate test for four-year-old novices at the Cheltenham Festival and this year’s field looks potentially one of the best assembled in recent years. The bookmakers are finding it difficult to split three unbeaten horses at the head of the market, all of which are unbeaten over hurdles.
Our Conor was hugely impressive when easily seeing off the well regarded Diakali by five lengths at Leopardstown. The winning margin could have been extended and trainer Dessie Hughes is confident that the son of Jeremy can cope with the hustle and bustle of Cheltenham. The runner-up had previously been touted as the best of the Willie Mullins-trained juveniles having won by 28 lengths at Punchestown in January. He may still take his chance but it is difficult to see him reversing the places.
Far West is the leading hope of champion trainer Paul Nicholls and is unbeaten in four starts. He defeated Nicky Henderson’s consistent Vasco Du Ronceray in the Triumph Hurdle Trial over course and distance in November and was even more impressive in beating the six-year-old River Mague at Ascot last time. Nicholls is not normally one to overstate his chances but he has been unusually bullish about Far West and a big run is clearly anticipated.
Henderson runners may have seen the backside of Far West on two occasions but the Lambourn trainer’s leading hope is Rolling Star, a fluent winner over the Nicholls-trained Irish Saint at Cheltenham in January. As with several of his Cheltenham hopes this year, Henderson has not managed to get another run into Rolling Star so there is a danger that the huge field may put pressure on his jumping. Even so, he is another with plenty of potential from a yard that has a fine record in this race.
Nicholls has signalled his intention to bypass the festival with Irish Saint and save him for Aintree whilst most of the other runners look reasonably exposed. A possible exception is John Quinn’s Hidden Justice, a comfortable winner of both starts at minor meetings. His trainer knows what it takes to win this event having saddled Countrywide Flame to do so last year. He could also saddle Kashmir Peak, a winner over Sametegal at Doncaster in December before unseating his rider in a race won by that rival at Musselburgh. Vasco Du Ronceray was third in the race on Town Moor giving a line of form that suggests they are not too far behind Far West. Leading owner JP McManus is well represented throughout the meeting and Stocktons Wing, a game winner at Fairyhouse last time out, looks his best prospect in this. However, he has plenty to find if he is to reverse the placings with Our Conor from their meeting in December.
Summary
It will be a surprise if the winner is not one of the three favourites; Our Conor, Rolling Star and Far West. Preference is just for the latter because he has more experience and looks the sort to keep pulling it out in the closing stages.
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