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13:30 Cheltenham

Friday 16 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 4m 17.0s

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Selected odds by:

Farclas^t1⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

6/1

Won on the Flat over 1m4f (good) in France last summer prior to joining this trainer, for whom he has run very well on both starts in Grade 2/Grade 1 company, the latter on soft. Open to improvement and looks likely to be a contender.

Form: 22

Gumball^t1⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140

33/1

Shaped well early in the season with wins at Stratford and Chepstow on good ground, but firmly put in his place by Apple's Shakira here in November (soft). Better effort at Huntingdon last time but needs improvement here in first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 3-1122

Mr Adjudicator⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

7/1

Comes here seeking a hat-trick after winning his first two for this top trainer, an easy success in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle and then a 1¼L defeat of Farclas back there in a Grade 1 last time. Should be more to come and he looks a major player.

Form: 11

Redicean²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 149

4/1

Progressive performer who has done everything asked of him in running up a hat-trick at Kempton, including an impressive Grade 2 success last time. Acts on soft, though jumping was better on good last time. Looks a leading British hope.

Form: 111

Saldier²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

10/1

Acts well on testing ground, as he showed when posting an easy and visually impressive 10L win in a Gowran Park maiden hurdle last month on his hurdling debut. Looked to be scope for more and he is entitled to plenty of respect.

Form: 1

Sayo⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins

25/1

Won a 1m4½f maiden in France (v.soft) in April and was runner-up on hurdles debut over there. Won in spite of his jumping on debut for this stable at Naas in January, looking like there was more to come and he could produce significant improvement.

Form: 21

Sussex Ranger²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142

16/1

Has won 2-3 over hurdles, impressing at both Fontwell and to a greater extent Sandown (good to soft) in December. Was 1½L runner-up to We Have A Dream in Chepstow Grade 1 and decent effort on AW last time kept him ticking over. Not ruled out.

Form: 112

Apple's Shakira⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146| CD

2/1

Unbeaten in four starts over hurdles and favourite for this race for some time. Lots to like about how she has dismissed two Grade 2 fields by 17L/8L at this venue. Appears to have all boxes ticked for trainer who has won three of last 10 renewals.

Form: 1111

Stormy Ireland⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins

5/1

Went close on both starts in France before a jaw-dropping effort to win by 58L at Fairyhouse (2m, heavy) on debut for this yard. Has had plenty of time to come on for that and interesting for top connections who have won this race just once each.

Form: 2-21

Forecasts

Apple's Shakira (2/1), Redicean (4/1), Stormy Ireland (5/1), Farclas (6/1), Mr Adjudicator (7/1), Saldier (10/1), Sussex Ranger (16/1), Sayo (25/1), Gumball (33/1)

A relatively small field should ensure that there are few hard luck stories. That will be a comfort to supporters of pre-race favourite APPLE'S SHAKIRA, who looks to have speed, stamina, the ability to handle the forecast conditions and also the best form going into this. She is therefore very hard to oppose. Perhaps surprisingly, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have each won this just once and Stormy Ireland is a very interesting contender as the pair try to combine for success in the juvenile championship for the first time. Farclas and Mr Adjudicator are other strong Irish candidates, while the British also have live hopes with Redicean.