Triumph Trial sees Burdett Road and Sir Gino go head to head
The Battle for Triumph Hurdle Supremacy Begins: Burdett Road vs Sir Gino
James Owen’s Burdett Road is set to prove his dominance in the Triumph Hurdle market as he faces a tough challenge in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham this Saturday.
This four-year-old sensation has had a flawless start to his hurdling career, with impressive victories at Huntingdon and another triumph in a similar race. His most recent win was further validated by the subsequent success of An Bradan Feasa, who finished second behind him and later secured an easy victory upon returning to Cheltenham.
Burdett Road’s partnership with jockey Harry Cobden has proven fruitful in their two previous outings together. The pair recently conducted a successful schooling session that further boosted confidence ahead of Saturday’s race.
Owen expressed excitement about the upcoming event but acknowledged its increased difficulty level compared to previous races. Notable contenders include Sir Gino from Nicky Henderson’s stable, who remains unbeaten over hurdles after winning both French Listed and Kempton races impressively.
With such fierce competition between these unbeaten juveniles, it is expected that whichever horse emerges victorious on Saturday will likely become the favorite for the prestigious Triumph Hurdle title.
Gidleigh Park Leads Charge in SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Hurdle
In another thrilling contest, Harry Fry’s Gidleigh Park is the hot favorite in the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade Two race covering two miles and four and a half furlongs.
Gidleigh Park has enjoyed an impeccable record thus far with three consecutive wins. His most recent victory at Newbury by a commanding nine lengths prompted his connections to take on this higher-grade challenge.
Fry expressed satisfaction with Gidleigh Park’s progress but acknowledged that further improvement would be required to compete successfully at this level. Despite it being Gidleigh Park’s first appearance at Cheltenham, Fry does not anticipate any issues.
Challengers such as Jonjo O’Neill’s Johnnywho, who finished fourth in the prestigious Grade One Challow event at Newbury, are expected to provide fierce competition for Gidleigh Park. However, Fry remains optimistic about his charge’s chances of continuing to progress and achieve success.