Antepost: Triumph Hurdle

Sir Gino heads the market in the Triumph at odds on, and looks a potential superstar. For any each way punters you'd be delighted to see Sir Gino taking a huge percentage out of the market and you should get some cracking value on the day.

1:30 Cheltenham - 2m1f - JCB Triumph Hurdle

Sir Gino - 8/11

He looks a potential superstar in the making and his performance at Cheltenham was one of the best performances of the season by any horse. Whether you think he's value at this price is debatable and you could say he was flattered last time out with Burdett Road disappointing being too keen throughout. It will be interesting to see how Milan Tino runs in the Fred Winter to see the form uphold. Without a doubt he looks ridiculously talented and the vibes have been strong about him since his big money purchase from France. Favourites chance.

Majborough - 13/2

A 'Gold Cup horse in the making' according to his trainer Willie Mullins and by all accounts he is some physical specimen according to everyone you talk to. He ran a cracker first time out in the DRF from the front and should give another good account of himself at Cheltenham on the new track which should suit him. His price has contracted a bit since so lacks any real each way value.

Kargese - 8/1

I think this filly is being underrated by plenty of people and the view is that she was lucky at the DRF. I don't agree, and she looks a high level graded filly to follow for the next couple of seasons for her shrewd connections. She might not be on Lossiemouth's level granted but she's a tough, honest filly who should be bang there in the Triumph. 8/1 is about fair and she gets 5lb from the boys which is very valuable.

Salvator Mundi - 12/1

2nd to Sir Gino in France, he's not been seen since and swerved a potential run in the DRF as he wasn't showing the right signs. I kind of hope they decide to leave him off until next season and by all accounts he's a Grade 1 horse for the future.

Storm Heart - 12/1

Paul Townend's pick at the DRF spring juvenile, he ran a solid race to finish 2nd and will come on from that run. I liked that he ran to the line at Leopardstown and I do think a little nicer ground will help him. If it's decent ground come the Friday I think he'll run a good race.

Salver - 14/1

A real soft ground specialist, I don't think he'll be heading to Cheltenham unless it's very soft.

Bunting - 16/1

Bought to be a dual purpose type, he looks a stayer in the making both over jumps and on the flat too. He will need to jump much better at Cheltenham to be involved, but he caught the eye staying on well last time out. He's still learning on the job too which was clear in his finishing effort. Each way chance.

Nurburgring - 16/1

Missed the spring juvenile at the DRF and comes straight here. He will run his race and be well trained by Joseph. He's the exact type of horse who will get his head down and run to the line but will find a couple classier than him. Each way squeak.

Ethical Diamond - 20/1

Caught the eye of a few in the spring juvenile when he was ridden cold and came through late. I think that'll probably be the same here and looks a wiseguy type of horse who'll catch the eye throughout the race travelling sweetly before finishing well beaten. A bit of good ground will probably help him.

Liari - 25/1

Having watched a Paul Nicholls Cheltenham preview this morning, he seemed keen on throwing his Cracksman gelding into the Triumph. I think the new course will suit him better than the tighter old course and he will be staying on up the hill whatever happens. Maybe you'll find 40s on the day with a few places on offer.

Mighty Bandit - 33/1

There was much back and forth when it was confirmed Mighty Bandit was going to Warren Greatrex. Some were saying why? Others were saying treat him with respect. He's been given plenty of opportunities to train decent horses in the past and shown he can't do it. Simple. Yes he won the Stayers Hurdle but every dog has its day. He's simply not a good trainer, and I have no idea why the owners have trusted him with big money purchases.

Highwind- 66/1

Highwind clearly has some degree of ability having been a consistent sort on the flat in France. He was a winner of a maiden hurdle at Punchestown and showed ability, but made a few mistakes including a bad mistake at the last before recovering and storming home. His jumping difficulties were shown up again at the DRF making several mistakes before finishing tamely.

Conclusion:

Given the general betting market of the Triumph Hurdle, it probably wasn't a market you wanted to wait so long to preview as most of the value is gone especially in the each way market. Sir Gino although the likeliest winner isn't any sort of value right now. Whether he drifts to odds against on the day depends on how brave the bookmakers are on the day. He looks top class and there doesn't seem to be anything on his level given how he destroyed the field on trials day and even his form at Kempton in his opening juvenile hurdle win has been franked too. I wouldn't want to touch him at 8/11 given others are open to improvement albeit he looks the winner on paper.

I like Storm Heart and Bunting as each way alternatives. Storm Heart would appreciate better ground and has winning form on that on the flat, I think that would see him improve further and I liked his run at Leopardstown last month. Bunting needs to improve his jumping but should be coming home well and might be a stayer to follow on the flat as Willie has mentioned a dual purpose campaign for him.

I think I'll just stick up the filly KARGESE who gets 5lb from the geldings and should be an each way bet to nothing given she's improving in each run. She ran a cracker on her Irish debut over Christmas, and she was also quite unlucky there too in a tight finish. It was her first run of the season where she was very keen throughout. She improved further to take the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival and she will improve again at Cheltenham too. She looks a solid graded filly who has done all her racing over hurdles in France and Ireland, and if Sir Gino and others underperform she should be the best of the rest with the 5lb allowance she receives. She's the token bet at the prices and I'll stick her up each way as she looks sure to be bang there at the end of things.

Plenty are there are open to improvement but the bookmakers have protected their margins by cutting most each way bets. You will probably find better prices on the day with more places on offer if you have a bit of patience.

Bets:

Kargese - 1.5pts ew @ 8/1 (NRNB) - Betfair/Paddy Power

Bets:

Brighterdaysahead - 2pts win @ 13/8 NRNB - Mares Novice Hurdle (07/03/2024)

Cool Survivor - 2pts ew @ 12/1 NRNB - Kim Muir (Advised 05/03/2024)

Apple Away - 1.5pts ew @ 20/1 NRNB - Kim Muir (Advised 05/03/2024)

Theatre Man - 1pt ew @ 7/1 NRNB - TrustATrader Plate (Advised 04/03/2024)

Saint Felicien - 1.25pts ew @ 14/1 NRNB - TrustATrader Plate (Advised 04/03/2024)

Saint Roi - 1.5pts ew @ 7/1 NRNB - Grand Annual (Advised 04/03/2024)

Solness - 0.75pts ew @ 16/1 NRNB - Grand Annual (Advised 04/03/2024)

In Excelsis Deo - 0.75pts ew @ 16/1 NRNB - Grand Annual (Advised 04/03/2024)

Ballyadam - 1.25pts ew @ 25/1 NRNB - Coral Cup (Advised 01/03/2024)

Brazil - 1.25pts ew @ 20/1 NRNB - Coral Cup (Advised 01/03/2024)

Milan Tino - 1.5pts ew @ 8/1 (NRNB) - Fred Winter (Advised 29/02/2024)

Ose Partir - 0.75pts ew @ 25/1 (NRNB) - Fred Winter (Advised 29/02/2024)

Chianti Classico - 0.75pts win @ 8/1 (NRNB) - Ultima Handicap Chase (Advised 29/02/2024)

Meetingofthewaters - 0.75pts win @ 8/1 (NRNB) - Ultima Handicap Chase (Advised 29/02/2024)

Bold Endeavour - 0.75pts ew @ 33/1 - Pertemps Final (Advised 28/02/2024)

Gowel Road - 1.5pts ew @ 33/1 - Pertemps Final (Advised 28/02/2024

State Man - 2pts @ 8/11 (NRNB) - Champion Hurdle (Advised 28/02/2024)

Dancing City - 1.5pts ew @ 7/1 NRNB - Albert Bartlett (Advised 26/02/2024)

Firefox - 1pt ew @ 7/1 NRNB - Supreme Novices Hurdle (Advised 23/02/2024)

Embassy Gardens - 1pt win @ 5/2 NRNB - National Hunt Chase (Advised 22/02/2024)

Broadway Boy - 1.5pts ew @ 10/1 NRNB - National Hunt Chase (Advised 22/02/2024)

Facile Vega - 1pt win @ 5/1 NRNB - Turners Novice Chase (Advised 18/02/2024)

Ile Atlantique - 1pt win @ 6/1 NRNB - Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle (Advised 16/02/2024)

Predators Gold - 1pt ew @ 20/1 NRNB - Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle (Advised 16/02/2024)

Found A Fifty - 2pts ew @ 6/1 NRNB - Arkle Chase (Advised 16/02/2024)

Galvin - 1.5pts ew @ 9/2 NRNB - Cross Country (Advised 13/02/2024)

You Oughta Know - 1.5pts ew @ 11/1 NRNB - Champion Bumper (Advised 11/02/2024)

Fastorslow - 2pts ew @ 6/1 NRNB - Gold Cup (Advised 05/02/2024)

El Fabiolo - 2pts win @ Evens - Champion Chase (Advised 25/01/2024)

Captain Guinness - 0.5pts ew @ 25/1 - Champion Chase (Advised 25/01/2024)

Stay Away Fay - 1pt win @ 5/1 (NRNB) - Brown Advisory (Advised 22/01/2024)

Monty's Star - 0.5pts ew @ 16/1 - Brown Advisory (22/01/2024)

Irish Point - 1pt win @ 6/1 - Stayers Hurdle (Advised 15/01/2024)

Ashroe Diamond - 1.25pts ew @ 7/1 - Mares Hurdle (Advised 10/01/2024)

Appreciate It - 1pt ew @ 14/1 - Ryanair Chase (Advised 04/01/24)

Banbridge - 0.5pts ew @ 25/1 - Ryanair Chase (Advised 04/01/24)