Triumph Hurdle Trial Betting Tips, Winners & History

Next Race: TBD

The next renewal of this race has not been scheduled yet. We will update this once the schedule has been released for next season. The race info, trends and tips shown below will be updated for the next renewal once the final declarations have been made.

Triumph Hurdle Trial Betting Tips

Note: The following tips are from 2020. Tips for the next renewal will be added once the final declarations have been made.

Paul Nicholls leads the way amongst the trainers here having landed the prize on five occasions in the past, most recently with Quel Destin in 2018. Nicholls will have high hopes of adding to his tally still further this year as he saddles the current market leader, Hell Red, who goes in the same Sir Martin Broughton & Friends colours that were carried to success by Quel Destin.

Of the riders on show, only the two Harry’s, Cobden and Skelton, have previously come home in front here. Cobden will be aboard the aforementioned, Hell Red, whilst Skelton gets the leg up on Cabot Cliffs for brother Dan.

This has been a rock-solid race for those towards the head of the market, with all bar one of the past 10 winners having returned an SP of 4/1 or shorter. That sequence includes five winning favourites, handing supporters of the jolly a level stakes profit of £1.29.

Hell Red – 6/4

Formerly with Guillaume Macaire, this son of Martaline finished second on his sole start in France before making the switch to the Paul Nicholls operation at the beginning of October. He has had just the one start for Nicholls since, but could scarcely have been more impressive when absolutely routing the opposition, to the tune of 12 lengths, over this trip in a good ground juvenile event at Chepstow. This represents a significant step up in class from that Class 4 contest, but there are reasons to believe that that performance may have been even better than it first appeared, and he may well prove up to the task.

Watching that Chepstow race back, one of the most notable aspects of Hell Red’s display was just how high his knee action was, suggesting that he wouldn’t have been in love with the fairly quick surface that day, and may be seen in a better light on softer ground. That impression was backed up by Nicholls in the aftermath, with the trainer asserting that, “Hell Red won’t be seen to good effect until he can run on soft ground”. Quite a statement following a 12-length victory!

As a full brother to Hell Boy, who was a dual graded winner on soft and heavy ground, Hell Red’s breeding also suggests improvement may be forthcoming once granted an easier surface. As such, the forecast rain in the area seems most likely to be in the market leader’s favour.

Duffle Coat – 15/8

With a name like that, the second favourite for this race would certainly be at home in the yard of the famously duffle coat-attired Nigel Twiston-Davies. However, this four-timer-seeking contender in fact hails from the yard of Irish Supremo Gordon Elliott. Having not had a runner in this race in the past 10 years, and having initially touted slightly lower grade targets, it looks very interesting that the shrewd Elliott has now ultimately plumped for this option.

Looking through the form of this son of Alhebayeb though, this does look to be the most logical next step up the ladder. Noted as being on the small side, he may lack when it comes to size but does appear to boast an impressive engine and can have done no more than win his three starts to date with the minimum of fuss. Impressive in scoring twice at a much lower level back home in Ireland, he was then brought over to Britain for the first time to take in a Listed event at Wetherby last time out, and promptly produced his biggest winning margin yet.

Whilst not responding immediately to the urgings of Jonathan Burke in the saddle that day, it became clear approaching the final flight that he was clicking into a gear the others couldn’t match. Eight lengths clear of the 128-rated Hiconic at the line, he looked a horse going places that day and may well be up to this step up in class.

Adagio – 13/2

Another ex-French runner of some interest is the David Pipe representative, Adagio. Making only his fifth career start here, this one is already under his third different set of owners and third different trainer. Pipe seems pretty excited to have him under his care now though, and on the form he has shown at the track to date it’s easy to see why.

Showing promise when placed in his opening two starts on the flat as a juvenile, he then made a huge impression when stepped up to 1m4f on his first start at three when scooting clear for an eight length success at Clairfontaine. With that effort coming in heavy ground, it appeared that stamina may be this one’s strong suit and a career over hurdles beckoned – hence the switch to the Pipe operation.

Given a fairly gentle introduction to this sphere in a Class 4 event at Warwick only last week, the bay gelding was much too good for his rivals in pulling seven and a half lengths clear in the straight. That effort can probably also be upgraded as his jumping almost completely fell to pieces over the final two obstacles. He can surely only improve in that regard though, and Pipe clearly saw enough encouragement to step him right up in class for his next assignment. An interesting each way contender.