This Grade One takes place on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 15th March
Sir Gino and outsider Bottler'secret feature in our verdict
Expired
James Bowen riding Sir Gino (yellow/black) clear the last to win The JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse. (Getty)
Gold Cup day at Cheltenham begins with the Triumph Hurdle. This Grade One juvenile hurdle has been won by many future stars of National Hunt racing and the betting for this year's contest is dominated by a home contender.
Here's our free guide to the 2024 Triumph Hurdle. You'll find our best betting tips in the verdict section below.
2024 Triumph Hurdle Tips
With Constitution Hill's participation up in the air, the new British banker at this year's Cheltenham Festival is Sir Gino. Nicky Henderson's star produced an outstanding performance to win the Finesse Juvenile Hurdle on Trials Day, after which Sir Gino was cut into odds-on favouritism for the Triumph.
Henderson's juvenile was cut for Cheltenham before that Grade Two victory, so connections were clear expecting a big performance. I rarely get involved with odds-on favourites, so I'm happy to let the market leader go and win his race at 4/6. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have Sir Gino included in a speculative accumulator or two.
If you're looking to take Sir Gino on, then Willie Mullins is the best place to start. Ireland's Champion Trainer has won the Triumph three times in the last four years and saddled the first four across the line in the opener on day four of the Cheltenham Festival 12 months ago.
Kargese landed the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, having finished a place behind Gordon Elliott's Kala Conti in the Grade Two at Leopardstown over Christmas. Storm Heart, who was sent off as the favourite for the Spring Juvenile, kept on well to finish second ahead of stablemate Majborough, who's built more like an Arkle contender than a leading juvenile.
Ethical Diamond, Salvator Mundi, Bunting and Anzadam are also possibles for Mullins and it'll be very interesting to see who Paul Townend opts to ride. The fact that the first six past the post in both Graded races at Leopardstown were separated by just six lengths does suggest that this year's crop of Irish juveniles are very evenly matched.
Kargese could be Willie Mullins' best chance in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle. (Getty)
Sir Gino could likely be the only British representative in this year's Triumph. Burdett Road, Kalif Du Berlais and Givemefive have been ruled out. Liari looks set to enter the Boodles Juvenile Handicap on day one, and Gary Moore looks likely to save Salver for Aintree.
At the ante-post stage, I put up Kala Conti at 16/1. Elliott's mare drifted out to 50/1 following her fifth-place finish in the Spring Juvenile, where I don't think Jack Kennedy's mount ran badly at all. She wouldn't be without an each-way chance, but her odds suggest that Kala Conti will either enter the Boodles or skip Cheltenham altogether.
Nurburgring's form with Kala Conti earlier in the season looks solid and Joseph O'Brien's juvenile wouldn't be without an each-way chance. I was mightly impressed by Bottler'secret's hurdling debut at Naas and Gavin Cromwell's recruit is worth more than just a second look.
Verdict
Sir Gino is going to take the world of beating in this year's Triumph Hurdle. However, at the prices, I've come down on the side of Bottler'secret.
A two-time winner on the flat for Ciaran Murphy, Bottler'secret trounced 118-rated Pacini and a 102-rated flat horse of Joseph O'Brien's when winning a Grade Three at Naas. Gavin Cromwell entered his recruit for the Triumph before he'd even jumped a hurdle and we know how good he is at readying a horse for Cheltenham.
The RPR of 135 that Bottler'secret received for that Naas win puts him on par with any of the other Irish contenders in this year's Triumph. Cromwell could swerve the Festival this year, but I'll take a chance on him turning up at 20/1.
Best Bet1: Bottler'secret E/W 2024 Triumph Hurdle Value Bet @20/1 at QuinnBet - 10 Units
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