Triumph Hurdle 2022: All about the Irish
The big guns are all ready to rock in this year’s Triumph Hurdle, with Vauban, Fil Dor, Pied Piper, Porticello and Knight Salute all in the final field…
A total of 13 runners will go to post for the Triumph Hurdle in the curtain raiser on Day Four of the Cheltenham Festival. Favourite Vauban is set to take his chance and looks to have outstanding claims to give the Mullins team a rare juvenile victory. His performance in dismissing the previous ante-post favourite Fil Dor at Leopardstown was nothing short of stunning and if reproducing that run it will take a superstar to beat him.
Fans of Fil Dor will be hoping the track and ground suit their charge more this time around as he is bidding to gain revenge on the Mullins hot pot in this Grade One contest. His stablemate Pied Piper is also in the field and is shorter in the betting. He boasts a victory over Vauban to his name already, as well as that all important Cheltenham form when romping to a 9 length win over Moka De Vassy and a host of other well touted British contenders.
Knight Salute has been a model of consistency for trainer Milton Harris so far this campaign and looks the best of the home team, but it would come as no surprise if he has a fair bit to find with the Irish raiders. Others in the field who could spring a surprise include Teddy Blue, who looked to be giving Knight Salute a race before a last flight blunder last time out, and Interne De Sivola for the Williams team, although this race looks all about the big Irish trio in truth. Outside of those top three, it is still very much an Ireland-affair, as they are also represented by Icare Allen, Ages of Man, Hms Seahorse, Il Etait Temps and Koi Dodville.
Porticello is the strongest of the British challengers in the market, and it’s no surprise to see the Gary Moore representative entered here after Grade 1 success at Chepstow over the Festive period, with the Skelton’s sending Doctor Parnassus, who is currently unbeaten in his two runs over obstacles.