By Jason Coote
The JCB Triumph Hurdle is often seen as a sumptuous starter on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. At 1:30, 13th March, 2015, the Cheltenham roar will herald the start of this Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race open to four-year-old colts & fillies over a distance of 2m 1f.
While the Gold Cup may be considered the pinnacle of a steeple chaser's career, the Triumph Hurdle could be viewed as the greatest test of juvenile hurdler and it's a lively market in the build up to the 2015 version.
History
This contest was first inaugurated in 1939 at Hurst Park, in Surrey. In those early days it was a popular venue for horses trained in France. In fact six of the first seven races went to French-based trainers. Interestingly, Lester Piggott won this race in 1954 when riding a horse named Prince Charlemagne, trained by Tommy Carey.
The Daily Express Triumph Hurdle became part of the Cheltenham Festival in 1968, with JCB sponsoring this event since 2002.
A number of exceptional juveniles have won this race including household names such as Persian War (1967), trained by Brian Swift. This bay gelding went on to be a three-time winner of the Champion Hurdle in what was termed ”a golden age” of two mile hurdling.
In 1988 Sir Michael Stoute (known as a top-class Flat trainer) proved victorious with Kribensis, a flashy grey gelding, racing in his famous scarlet and white silks of Sheikh Mohammed, his first Cheltenham winner. This exceptional talent went on to win the Triple Crown of Hurdling.
Recent Success
Recent winners of note include Katchit (2007). A poor Flat horse, Alan King trained this son of Kalanisi to win the Champion Hurdle, one of four horses to complete this feat (Clair Soleil, Persian War & Kribensis). In the last five years Zarkandar & the ill-fated Our Conor excelled with impressive victories. Last year saw Tiger Roll win for Gordon Elliot and Gigginstown House Stud, only the second Irish raider to prevail in the last thirteen races.
From a horse trainer perspective, Nicky Henderson has proven the most likely winner on no less than five occasions: starting with First Bout (1985) to Soldatino (2010). If the betting is anything to go by this talented trainer from Seven Barrows, Upper Lambourn, could hit the bookies with Peace And Co, who is sure to start favourite.
2015
This four-year-old bay gelding, sired by Falco out of a French mare, is unbeaten in his three races to date. This exciting juvenile was purchased after a ”ready” win at Clairefontain, France. Two more successes have seen Nicky Henderson's charge, racing in the familiar silks of owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, make headline news. This grandson of Pivotal was an impressive winner at Cheltenham, in January, when beating Karezak by three lengths in a Triumph Hurdle Trial. After a trio of victories, Peace And Co is now 7/4f to win at the Cheltenham Festival 2015. He will be ridden by Barry Geraghty. Connections have Bristol De Mai entered in this race in case of any mishap for the ante-post favourite.
Trainer Nick Henderson said: “We had to try and get him to settle but it was a fair mess of a race as they went no gallop. It was hard to get him to settle but we wanted him to learn from it as we don't want to make all in March. It's the first time he has seen another horse on a racecourse. He'll go straight to Cheltenham now.”
In addition, the stable have the third favourite, Hargam, who is priced at 8/1 with leading bookmakers. This grey gelding is owned by legendary gambler J P McManus, ridden to victory on his last two starts by Tony McCoy.
With two class horses on the warpath, it could pay to bet that Nicky Henderson will make this six winners in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Peace And Co should take all the beating.
