JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial
Juvenile Hurdle, Cheltenham 12:10
£23,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
2m 179y, Class 2  
Saturday 14th December 2024

QuinnBet

1 Quantock Hills 11/2
1 Teriferma 18/1
3 Total Look 11/8F
7 ran Distances: dht, nk, 9l
Time: 4m 9.40s (slow by 12.40s)

The race delivered a thrilling finish as Bowen brothers James and Sean shared the victory in a dramatic dead-heat between Quantock Hills and Teriferma.

James Bowen, riding the Warren Greatrex-trained Quantock Hills, looked to have secured the win with a fine leap at the final flight, forging ahead in the closing stages. However, Sean Bowen conjured up a late charge on the 18-1 shot Teriferma, drawing level right on the line to share the spoils. This win gave Jack Jones a second straight success in the race following An Bradan Feasa’s victory last year.

Irish raider Total Look, the 11-8 favourite, finished third, just a neck behind after making a couple of costly jumping errors in the latter stages.

Warren Greatrex expressed his thoughts on Quantock Hills, saying, "It’s a bit of a family affair for the Bowens, and our fellow is a lovely horse. He never ran on the Flat and he’s just inexperienced really. He travelled through the race very well and I think he’s got a very bright future. He just wandered when he hit the front – it’s a big place when you come here for the first time. I thought we’d won initially and then I thought we were beat. He was on his own so he had nothing to run with, but he’s a good horse, I’d say. He could be a horse for the Boodles (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle). I think he’ll be better on softer ground, he looked the winner from a long way out and we’ve just got there a bit too soon really, I suppose."

Greatrex added, "That’s two runners and two winners at Cheltenham this season for us now – I might not come back! Obviously, what happened to Abuffalosoldier at the last meeting was very sad, but he won and showed everyone what he could do that day. It’s part of the job unfortunately."

Jack Jones was equally pleased, stating, "Very happy, it’s a bit of a strange feeling having a dead-heat, but I suppose it’s a winner, isn’t it? It was very pleasing. I think if he’d finished second, if he’d dead-heated or if he’d won outright, he was probably the one to take out of the race from where we were and how we hit the line. We’ve had our horse two or three months now and he’s been very straightforward. We won this race last year with An Bradan Feasa, who would be a bit more of a thinker I suppose, whereas this lad is a gent. Sean said he jumped a bit big and we were slightly on the back foot. He missed three out and was a bit further back than ideal due to his jumping, but the way he’s finished, you’d rather be coming up that hill than slowing up and I’m delighted."

Jones continued, "I thought we were massively overpriced. He’d won two hurdle races and finished second with a big weight, so I don’t know how we’ve gone off at 18-1. I thought this lad was a better horse than the lad last year, his schooling had been good and there was no reason why he wasn’t going to be a good horse. The Boodles would be a logical step. When Willie Mullins unleashes his juveniles, we’ll probably leave that race (Triumph Hurdle) to them."

The dead-heat between Quantock Hills and Teriferma provided a fitting end to a thrilling race, setting up both horses as ones to watch for the future.

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JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Juvenile Hurdle)
£23,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 2m 179y, Class 2
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Quantock Hills 3 11-7 Warren Greatrex James Bowen 11/2
1 dht Teriferma 3 11-7 Jack Jones Sean Bowen 18/1
3 nk Total Look 3 11-4 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 11/8F
4 9 Lavender Hill Mob 3 11-0 James Owen Sam Twiston-Davies 9/2
5 6½ Ambiente Amigo 3 10-11 James Owen Harry Cobden 9/2
6 nse Moutarde 3 11-4 Anthony Charlton Gavin Sheehan 15/2
7 12 Ocean Conquest 3 11-0 Nigel Twiston-Davies Jordan Nailor 66/1
NR Small Fry 3 11-0 Gary & Josh Moore NON RUNNER

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