Triumph Hurdle 2021

[Eggs]

...straight to the Triumph for Quilixios according to Elliott. A best price 6-1 after that win.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Hard not to be impressed by Quilixios. His hurdling seems to have improved and loved how he got upsides Saint Sam in a few strides.

It'll be a surprise to me if GE doesn't win the triumph this year.

[charlie]

I thought he did that really well. I think Saint Sam has improved since Zanahiyr beat him... and Busselton beaten further?

I don't see what's not to like, I wouldn't think Zanahiyr backers (of which I am one) would not be at least a little more worried than they were before the race.... he's enhanced his claims, clearly.

It was a very good performance and obviously he has enhanced his claims - Saint Sam might be better now, but Zan beat Saint Sam more convincingly IMO.

Of course there is lots to like, I'm just saying Zanahiyr backers (not one) would be encouraged by GE's comments post race, plus the performance that was very good without being wow, hence why he's bankable now at 6/1 and not a lot shorter.

I'll probably re-watch later - wouldn't rule out putting him in the book at 6's, just not sure atm.

[Quevega]

I thought he did that really well. I think Saint Sam has improved since Zanahiyr beat him... and Busselton beaten further?


I don't see what's not to like, I wouldn't think Zanahiyr backers (of which I am one) would not be at least a little more worried than they were before the race.... he's enhanced his claims, clearly.

Z has beat Saint Sam twice in contrasting races pacewise.

Saint Sam was not ridden to his best effect today IMO, he went a bit too quick.
I thought the winner looked babyish, and a bit green and was stopping in front, which is typical for many future stayers. His eyes were popping out his head and looking sideways like a Fish.

Z is more professional and has more speed but Quilixios is a good type for the triumph for his stamina.
Be a good race in March.

I'd edge towards Quilixios but on good ground and given a sensible pace, then Z could outclass them.

[jonthehammer]

I think it will be a belter, got them both on side and in various multiples early on thanks to you guys on there.

[Ice]

Has anyone got any thoughts on Tritonic ?

[Carnage at Taunton]

Has anyone got any thoughts on Tritonic ?

Yes, it seems he’s been forgotten. Good run and should improve before that, big player.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Should improve for his last run!!

[Lobos]

I just have a feeling Quixilos may come up the hill better. We have had a very wet last few weeks. If this continues then we are in for a soft ground Fez which may blunt Zanahiyr's speed. If we do get a dry/warm spring then I'd side with Z. A fascinating race.

[Ice]

I really liked his last run, looked like he would learn plenty from it and has some classy flat form.

[charlie]

I just have a feeling Quixilos may come up the hill better. We have had a very wet last few weeks. If this continues then we are in for a soft ground Fez which may blunt Zanahiyr's speed. If we do get a dry/warm spring then I'd side with Z. A fascinating race.

3-4 days of sun / wind and Cheltenham can go from soft/heavy to good ground, and that's in a couple of days, much less 40! Way too premature to be calling fez ground

[Istabraq]

We have had a very wet last few weeks. If this continues then we are in for a soft ground Fez which may blunt Zanahiyr's speed.

37 days to go, that ground will change countless times between now and then, bringing ground into reasoning this far out will only lead you down dark alleys...

[Lobos]

37 days to go, that ground will change countless times between now and then, bringing ground into reasoning this far out will only lead you down dark alleys...

Not me. The sweetie shop is closed until March don't forget.

[Spectre]

I think Gordon is going to be very tempted to put Zanahiyr in the Supreme now.

He has a line on everything in Ireland, and also most horses in England through Duffle Coat, and I'd say he'll be pretty confident that both Zanahiyr and Quilixios are ahead of everything. He has those two plus Duffle Coat for the race, and does he really need to go in three handed? Does he want a one two in the Triumph when he may be able to take out the Supreme as well.

Ballyadam looks more than likely to chase Appreciate It home in the Supreme. And while he was closer at Leopardstown yesterday, and he could get closer with a cleaner round of jumping, I'm not sure he can turn it around. However based on comparative times from Quilixios to Appreciate It, they would be relatively close with the four year old allowance. The trouble is Quilixios isn't a novice because he won in March in France.

However Zanahiyr is. Elliott has said Zanahiyr is all about speed, and Quilixios is more of a stayer. Well if he wanted to split them and he thinks Zanahiyr is ahead in the pecking order at home, the 7lbs he'd receive from Appreciate It puts him very close on that literal line from Quilixios yesterday. Plus Zanhiyr would be suited by the old course on Tuesday, and Quilixos the new much stiffer course on Friday. He also has two feasible darts to fire at Appreciate It, and two feasible darts to fine at The Triumph.

Something like this has clearly been on their mind, because there have been noises previously about needing to split uo the juveniles, with both the Mares Novice Hurdle and the Supreme being mentioned as races under consideration. And I think the caomparative times yesterday will encourage them to go for it if they genuinely believe Zanahiyr is ahead of Quilixios. They surely must think they have a chance of toppling Appreciate It with him.

Also if Zanahiyr goes to the Supreme it opens up the possibility of Ballyadam going to the Ballymore Hurdle. Given Appreciate It already rates ahead of Bob Ollinger after putting him away tidily, and everyone had assumed that Ballyadam would be better over further, surely it's a gnenuine possibility as they make Festival plans. At the very least you'd think it'll be discussed, particularly on breeding you'd expect him to benefit for a step up in trip. And Gordon doesn't appear to have anything else for the Ballymore.

So what has been assumed so far is Zanahiyr and Quilixios 1-2 in the Triumph, and Ballyadam a place in the Supreme, but a switch in targets genuinely opens up the possibility of winning all three races. They have to try don't they?

[Kautostar]

I think Gordon is going to be very tempted to put Zanahiyr in the Supreme now.

He has a line on everything in Ireland, and also most horses in England through Duffle Coat, and I'd say he'll be pretty confident that both Zanahiyr and Quilixios are ahead of everything. He has those two plus Duffle Coat for the race, and does he really need to go in three handed? Does he want a one two in the Triumph when he may be able to take out the Supreme as well.

Ballyadam looks more than likely to chase Appreciate It home in the Supreme. And while he was closer at Leopardstown yesterday, and he could get closer with a cleaner round of jumping, I'm not sure he can turn it around. However based on comparative times from Quilixios to Appreciate It, they would be relatively close with the four year old allowance. The trouble is Quilixios isn't a novice because he won in March in France.

However Zanahiyr is. Elliott has said Zanahiyr is all about speed, and Quilixios is more of a stayer. Well if he wanted to split them and he thinks Zanahiyr is ahead in the pecking order at home, the 7lbs he'd receive from Appreciate It puts him very close on that literal line from Quilixios yesterday. Plus Zanhiyr would be suited by the old course on Tuesday, and Quilixos the new much stiffer course on Friday. He also has two feasible darts to fire at Appreciate It, and two feasible darts to fine at The Triumph.

Something like this has clearly been on their mind, because there have been noises previously about needing to split uo the juveniles, with both the Mares Novice Hurdle and the Supreme being mentioned as races under consideration. And I think the caomparative times yesterday will encourage them to go for it if they genuinely believe Zanahiyr is ahead of Quilixios. They surely must think they have a chance of toppling Appreciate It with him.

Also if Zanahiyr goes to the Supreme it opens up the possibility of Ballyadam going to the Ballymore Hurdle. Given Appreciate It already rates ahead of Bob Ollinger after putting him away tidily, and everyone had assumed that Ballyadam would be better over further, surely it's a gnenuine possibility as they make Festival plans. At the very least you'd think it'll be discussed, particularly on breeding you'd expect him to benefit for a step up in trip. And Gordon doesn't appear to have anything else for the Ballymore.

So what has been assumed so far is Zanahiyr and Quilixios 1-2 in the Triumph, and Ballyadam a place in the Supreme, but a switch in targets genuinely opens up the possibility of winning all three races. They have to try don't they?

Or risk throwing away a Cheltenham winner and end up with nothing. Can’t see him switching unless something happens to appreciate it