2021 Triumph Hurdle Guide

A smart animal on the flat, Tritonic hit an impressive rating of 99 on the level.

Sent hurdling by Alan King in January, he made a pleasing jumping debut. The soft ground maybe slightly blunting his turn of foot, he still managed to get the job done.

The current joint favourite for the Triumph laid down his festival claims by demolishing the field in the Adonis hurdle recently at Kempton.

Well punted into odds on favourite, the good underfoot conditions let him use his pace to devastating effect. A sticky jump two out didn’t stop his momentum.

He jumped the last well and sprinted clear of the field.

Recency bias might have us believe this is some really smart form but it could be wise not to get too sucked in. It’s been 10 years since the Adonnis winner went on to score in the Triumph too.

He also might be reliant on the ground being fast enough for him to go through the gears. Be wary.

Another flat recruit, this time for team Denise Foster, Zanahiyr is a perfect three from three since being switched to hurdles.

Solid enough when winning his maiden in October, him and favourite Dark Voyager pulled miles clear of the remainder. Zanahiyr being the more professional on the day.

His next start earmarked him as a really smart sort. Winning a grade 3 hurdle he dispatched the well fancied Saint Sam for Willie Mullins without breaking sweat.

Backing up that effort in a Grade Two race for four year olds at Leopardstown, he was sent off favourite for the first time and obliged at a short price. Giving 3lbs to Busselton he asserted on the run-in to an impressive victory.

His form looks solid, the rivals he’s beaten acquitted themselves well in the Fred Winter and he looked a level above them. 

Given plenty of time to freshen up ready for the festival, he looks the one to beat on paper.

Wearing the famous red, white and blue of Cheveley Park Stud, Quilixious is now trained by Henry De Bromhead.

Making his hurdle debut last year in France he was a wide margin winner before being picked up by powerful connections.
Saved for this season, he debuted for his new owners at Punchestown.

He showed his class immediately and romped home to a 13 length win without getting out of first gear.
Only given a couple of weeks off, he was sent out again and beat a weak, small field easily.

Tucked away for the Dublin Racing Festival, he secured Grade One honours skipping clear of Saint Sam. Taking up the running approaching the last he was ridden clear of second with plenty in hand.

He maybe doesn’t quite lie up with Zanahiyr but he is looking the best of the rest. Certainly one that has place credentials, it wouldn’t be wise to ignore a Grade One winner coming into the festival.

A French flat recruit for David Pipe, Adagio made his hurdle debut at Warwick earlier in the season and looked special from the word ‘go’.

A demolition job saw him only given eight days off before contesting the Grade Two juvenile at Cheltenham’s November meeting. He ran a blinder off a short break to be second place to the unbeaten Duffle Coat.

Connections gave him a break off the back of that to freshen up and he handily won his next start over the Triumph course and distance.

We last saw him at Chepstow for the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle where he scalped rapid improver Nassalam. The two look real smart prospects and pulled 20 lengths away from third.

Again given plenty of time to freshen up he’s the only grade 1 winner this side of Ireland and a big price probably underestimates his chances.

A course and distance winner, a Grade One winner and his form looks solid. Overpriced and in with a good chance of getting in the mix.

Not a runner we know a whole deal about as he’s only had one start over in France, Haut En Couleurs was narrow margin winner of his only hurdle start south of the Channel.

Picked up by the Donnelley family, the form of his only success has yielded subsequent winners.

Trained by Mullins he’s not one to be discounted but it’s hard to assess how good his chances are. Probably best watched on yard debut.

A four year old colt for Mullins; Souede and Munir, he’s been purchased by connections off the back of some impressive three year old runs on the flat in native France.

Fifth in a Group One on his last start on the level, he looked a really smart prospect over a mile and a half.

Brought over to Ireland to start his hurdles career, Tax For Max was thrown in at the deep end for a Grade Three juvenile hurdle and acquitted himself well to be second to the more experienced Teahupoo.

Smart on the flat, he didn’t disgrace himself over hurdles on his first attempt either, certainly a classy individual. 
Open to more improvement, he’s classy and could be overpriced to hit the frame.

Another filly, this time for Sean Curran, Talking About You has amassed a strong amount of experience this season.

Starting her career on the flat she struggled to shine on the level and was switched yards and codes last Summer. Debuting in August, she shaped well at a big price to be third on debut.

She shed her maiden tag on her third spin over hurdles and has since managed to back that up three times including a listed win in late December when still only a three year old.

Her form looking solid enough, she tried listed company again against her own age bracket, but struggled under the penalty and only managed second to Her Indoors.

With that rival only being deemed good enough for the handicap equivalent of this race it puts into perspective what this filly has achieved.

Successful against her own sex in a lower grade, she’ll probably find a few to good here.

Another very busy four year old this season who’s had plenty of action. Seven runs over hurdles already gives him plenty of experience.

Notching his first win all the way back in August he’s been kept busy and tasted success again despite a penalty in mid October.

Clearly highly thought of, he ran in the Grade Two trial for the Triumph back in November but was a disappointing fifth behind the impressive Duffle Coat.

Next seen over this course and distance again, but down in class, Historic Heart gave weight to Adagio who served him a beating by nearly five lengths. Not bad form as that rival sits more prominently in the market.

Last seen beaten in listed company, by Fiveandtwenty it would put into disrepute how classy he is.

Looking a good horse, Grade One company will find him out for quality and he’s unlikely to be involved in the finish.