JCB Triumph Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
Published on: 16/03/2018
JCB Triumph Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
March 16, 2018 13:30pm - Cheltenham
Distance: 2m 179y
Grade: 1
Runners: 15
Winner: £ 71,188
Going: Heavy (soft in places)
The first race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the JCB Triumph Hurdle. It is the first of three races leading up the main event of the day, the Gold Cup. But the race is more than just a warm-up act and with plenty of quality on display it promise to be a cracking race.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Apple`s Shakira is the clear favourite having won three times at Cheltenham since arriving from France. The latest of those wins came in conditions not dissimilar to those she will experience this on Friday, so the going should not bother her. With course and distance form and a 7lb mares` allowance, she looks like the one to beat here.
Farclas also had an instant impact when making his debut in Grade 2 company at Leopardstown during the festive period, coming in second behind Espoir DAllen. He was second on the same course again after losing a close battle to the Willie Mullins-trained Adjudicator, who also runs here. On that occasion Espoir DAllen was well beaten by 22 lengths into fourth.
Although Mr Adjudicator came out on top that day, the less experienced Farclas can be expected to progress even further and could reverse that outcome here. And at 15/2 he looks the value pick in the each-way market.
JCB Triumph Hurdle Winners - past four 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)
Latest Betting odds:
Apple`s Shakira 7/4
Stormy Ireland 6/1
Redicean 6/1
Farclas 15/2
Mr Adjudicator 7/2
Saldier 12/1
Sussex Ranger 25/1
40/1 bar
You can back Apple`s Shakira to win at 7/2 and Farclas (E/W) at 15/2.
By Neil Morris
Published on: 16/03/2018
Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (16/03/2018 08:42:25) but are subject to change.
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