JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial |
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| (Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) Grade 2, Cheltenham 12:45 £60,000 guaranteed, 4yo only, 2m 1f, Class 1  |
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1 Pied Piper 11/8F
2 Moka De Vassy 50/1
3
Forever William 12/1
8 ran Distances: 9l, hd, 9½l
Time: 4m 7.75s (slow by 10.75s)
Pied Piper enters the market for the Triumph Hurdle after a hugely impressive victory for @gelliott_racing and @_Davy_Russel_ in the Finesse Juvenile Hurdle at @CheltenhamRaces. pic.twitter.com/RJahHHIDwL https://t.co/HNoyChZL8E via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) January 30, 2022
A dual winner on the Flat for John Gosden and the Queen, the son of New Approach, Pied Piper appeared to have plenty on his plate with Kempton scorer Iceo and course and distance winner Interne De Sivola among his rivals.
But after being settled at the rear for much of the way, Pied Piper cruised into contention before easing clear under a motionless Davy Russell to score by nine lengths – to take over from Fil Dor as Triumph Hurdle favourite, although that might not be his ultimate destination.
“He was immature the last day and we always thought he’d improve from Punchestown and he has, he’s a lovely horse. There’s loads of options, there’s a lot of festivals ahead of us,” said Russell. “It’s always good to ride a winner Cheltenham.”
MansionBet make Pied Piper their 5-2 market leader for March from 9-1, while easing Fil Dor to 4-1 from 3-1.
Intriguingly, however, Elliott raised the possibility of splitting his aces, with Pied Piper having the option of taking on his elders in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
He said: “We came over to have a feel and see where we are. We thought he was a nice horse and we thought if he settled he’d be able to close.
“He probably surprised us a little bit, but he’s always been nice to be fair. We bought him as a horse to mix it over hurdles and on the Flat.
“We might split them up or we might run the two of them in the Triumph, you never know. They’re both in the Supreme, but this would be a speedier horse and the Friday track in the Triumph might suit Fil Dor better. If one of them was to go for the Supreme Novices’, I’d say it would be this lad.
“There’s always Aintree and there are plenty of races at home.”
JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial
(Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£60,000 guaranteed, 4yo only, 2m 179y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good
1 Pied Piper 4 11-0 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell 11/8F
2 9 Moka De Vassy 4 11-0 Mrs Jane Williams Jonathan Burke 50/1
3 hd Forever William 4 11-0 Alan King Tom Cannon 12/1
4 9½ Iceo 4 11-3 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 15/8
5 16 Silver Shade 4 11-0 Milton Harris Kevin Jones 25/1
6 1½ Boulette 4 11-0 Nigel Hawke David Noonan 125/1
7 1¼ Interne De Sivola 4 11-3 Nick Williams Chester Williams 5/1
PU Moulins Clermont 4 11-0 Gary Moore Jamie Moore 14/1
Year Horse Owner Trainer Weight Jockey SP
1990 Sayyure Brian Lovrey Nigel Tinkler 11-08 Graham McCourt 3/1
1991 Hopscotch Pipe Scudamore Racing Martin Pipe 11-02 Peter Scudamore 8/11 f
1992 Abandoned
1993 Major Bugler Colin Buckle Toby Balding 11-00 Adrian Maguire 13/2
1994 Pridwell Pond House Racing Martin Pipe 11-00 Richard Dunwoody 3/1
1995 Brave Tornado Bridget Swire Toby Balding 11-04 AP McCoy 7/2
1996 Abandoned
1997 Shooting Light John Brown Pat Murphy 11-00 Richard Dunwoody 10/11 f
1998 Zafarabad Elaine Baines David Nicholson 11-00 Richard Johnson 1/3 f
1999 Hors La Loi III John Martin Francois Doumen FR 11-08 Thierry Doumen 5/2
2000 Mister Banjo Million In Mind P’ship Nicky Henderson 11-08 Mick Fitzgerald 2/7 f
2001 Jair Du Cochet Miriam Montauban Guillaume Macaire FR 11-08 Jacques Ricou Evens f
2002 Vol Solitaire Barry Marshall Paul Nicholls 11-00 Joe Tizzard 11/1
2003 Moneytrain Tina Hamann Christian Von Der Recke GER 11-00 Robert Thornton 25/1
2004 Mondul Let’s Live Racing Milton Harris 11-08 Ollie McPhail 11/2
2005 Akilak Ada Partnership Howard Johnson 11-00 Graham Lee 50/1
2006 Abandoned
2007 Katchit D S J P Syndicate Alan King 11-07 Robert Thornton 2/1 f
2008 Franchoek J P McManus Alan King 11-07 Robert Thornton 10/11 f
2009 Walkon McNeill Racing Alan King 11-07 Robert Thornton 6/5 f
2010 Baccalaureate The Yes No Wait Sorries Nigel Twiston-Davies 11-00 Paddy Brennan 100/1
2011 Local Hero Phil Martin Steve Gollings 11-04 Tony McCoy 15/8 f
2012 Grumeti* The McNeill Family Alan King 11-04 Wayne Hutchinson 7/4 jf
2013 Rolling Star Michael Buckley & Vestey Family Nicky Henderson 11-07 Barry Geraghty 5/2
2014 Le Rocher John White & Anne Underhill Nick Williams 11-07 Richard Johnson 2/1
2015 Peace And Co Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson 11-07 Barry Geraghty 4/9 f
2016 Protek Des Flos Potensis Bloodstock Ltd Nicky Henderson 11-00 Noel Fehily 25/1
2017 Defi Du Seuil J P McManus Philip Hobbs 11-07 Barry Geraghty 1/5 f
2018 Apple’s Shakira J P McManus Nicky Henderson 10-12 Barry Geraghty 1/7 f
2019 Fakir D'Oudairies M L Bloodstock Joseph O’Brien IRE 11-00 J J Slevin 4/1
2020 Galahad Quest 4 11-0 Holt, Macnabb, Robinson & Jeffrey Nick Williams Harry Cobden 6/1
2021 ABANDONED
