Racecards
14:00 Cheltenham
Jcb Triumph Hurdle (Class A)
- 23 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 31
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A P McCoy
close up on inner, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 112
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer John Queally
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up mid-division, mistake and weakened 5th
- Form 126
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased leaders, until weakened after 3 out, tailed off
Border Tale
47- Form 31PP30
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C Weedon
- Jockey C Llewellyn
slightly hampered and well in rear after 2nd, kept on under pressure from 2 out, no danger
Cherub (GER)
40- Form 42
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
took keen hold, prominent, chased leaders from 2 out, kept on same pace last
Chief Yeoman
35- Form 12412
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A Dobbin
in touch, effort to lead narrowly after 2 out, headed and one pace before last, stayed on again flat
- Form 612414
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey R Garritty
in touch, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 10
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
took keen hold, led to 2nd, stayed prominent, blundered 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1214
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up in mid-division, good headway after 3 out, ridden to lead before last, soon headed, weakened flat
- Form 331
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, smooth headway on inner after 3 out, chased leaders after next, led last, driven clear flat
- Form 106P
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear until brought down 2nd
Mondul (GER)
19- Form 11215
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
led 2nd to next, stayed prominent, mistake 5th and soon lost place
- Form 2R
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
behind, slightly hampered 2nd, headway under pressure after 3 out, never going pace to trouble leaders
- Form 23441
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D N Russell
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, mistake next
- Form 54110
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey C O'Dwyer
soon chased leaders, ridden along approaching 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 123
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
towards rear, effort on outside when mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake last
Tarque (IRE)
82- Form 02F21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
towards rear when brought down 2nd
- Form 212406
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T Walsh
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
- Form 411111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
in touch, driven along after 2 out, soon weakened
Tusk
40- Form 411
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
prominent, made most from 3rd to 3 out, weakening when slightly hampered after next
- Form 111230
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M Harris
- Jockey B Hitchcott
in mid-division, behind from 5th
Zimbabwe
52- Form 241
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
prominent, led 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened quickly
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Trouble At Bay is battle-hardened, a quality that will help him to land the spoils in the opening event on Gold Cup day, with Tusk, Moulin Riche, Tarque and Adopted Hero all expected to play a part up the hill. Trouble At Bay was beaten on his debut over timber, but since then Alan King's charge has reeled off five victories on the bounce, vindicating the trainer's belief that he is a natural hurdler. Significantly, two of those wins have come over today's course and distance, including the Steel Plate Trial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle on New Year's Day, so his ability to stay up the hill is not in question. Furthermore, he will be much more at home than when gaining his latest success in Kempton's Adonis Hurdle at the end of last month, as he won that day despite not being suited to the sharp, flat track. Trouble At Bay has beaten a few of his rivals here on the way, including Tamarinbleu, and sets the standard. Strictly on the form-book, French raider Moulin Riche has a great chance of beating the selection on a line through Val Du Don, not far behind Trouble At Bay in the Steel Plate, but further behind Francois Doumen's runner at Auteuil earlier. Moulin Riche was perhaps unlucky when hitting the running rail three out in the race won by Tusk at Sandown, as he was going very well at the time. Doumen knows what it takes to land this prize, having been successful four years ago with Snow Drop, and his runner should go well in first-time blinkers. Tusk will have his supporters as well, and it must be remembered that he was a tough horse for Mick Channon on the Flat, numbering Trouble At Bay among his victims when scoring at Bath in the summer. In many ways he is a similar sort to the selection and cannot be ruled out. Tarque was backed for the Triumph after opening his account in fine style on his first outing on these shores at Kempton in December, after which he was purchased from Francois Doumen, and should give Venetia Williams a good chance of at least having a placed runner. Adopted Hero is lightly raced and it would be no surprise if he were to go well, while the Irish, successful three times in the last 13 runnings, may have most to hope for from Hasanpour who is by all accounts well over a breathing problem. All in all, it promises to be yet another fast and furious renewal, and now that Alan King has broken his duck, courtesy of Fork Lightning on Tuesday, the vibes are good that Trouble At Bay can add to his tally.