January 28 / 11.40 Cheltenham

11.40

Soft

JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 0f 179y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 131 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Peak RPR of 87 during consistent Flat career; only defeat over hurdles came at the hands of Triumph favourite Lossiemouth and he moved much the best en route to edging out a rallying Dixon Cove at Chepstow (2m Grade 2, soft); 5lb worse off with that rival so has to step up again, but that's very feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(5)

3rd May 2026

Yielding

1m 4f 30y

15:43 Cork

Comfort Zone

9st 7lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner went close in 2m4f Ascot Stakes last June; finished well when close third in 2m Naas handicap in October; this trip is on the short side.

12/1

14th

6

(6)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

16:17 Curragh

Comfort Zone

9st 8lb

J: Gary Halpin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Third runner for yard; three-time hurdle winner went close in 2m4f Ascot Stakes off 93 last June; stayed on for midfield finish in Irish Cesarewitch here in September; finished well when close third in 2m Naas handicap in October; this trip is on the short side.

11/1

4

(3)

12th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 7y

16:20 Naas

Comfort Zone

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Last year's winner from 8lb lower went close in the Ascot Stakes off 93 in June (2m4f, good to firm); ran better than his finishing position suggested in the Petingo premier handicap when he was interfered with at the start; stayed on in the Irish Cesarewitch last time but was never near enough to challenge; can go well with a clear run.

18/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 11 C

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Ex-Aidan O'Brien inmate who still has a future on the Flat judged on winning a valuable 1m4f AW handicap a month ago; that came on the back of an unbeaten start over hurdles, latterly beating solid yardstick Perseus Way (third to Comfort Zone at Chepstow before winning at Huntingdon) with some comfort in a Grade 2 here (good); unraced on soft ground since his Flat debut (sixth) but brings compelling form credentials.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(20)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Scriptwriter

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Milton Harris

Ex-Aidan O'Brien; has seen more action for current yard, mostly in a hurdles campaign but he's also made advances on the Flat; 10-1 for a five-runner Group 3 over C&D (good to soft, unraced on firmer than good) on latest start and he gave the odds-on favourite Hamish a scare, just in front of Tashkhan; up 3lb but he's a rising force.

12/1

2nd

3

(1)

15th Jul 2023

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:45 York

Scriptwriter

9st 0lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Milton Harris

Useful turf form for Aidan O'Brien; better when winning a 1m4f AW handicap in late December, in the midst of a higher-profile hurdles campaign; held up from wide draw in handicap at Royal Ascot and never got into it, probably running creditably; others in this Group 3 field have better form but he's considered for second.

16/1

7th

5

(15)

20th Jun 2023

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Scriptwriter

9st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Milton Harris

Promise at up to 1m2f during short Flat career for Aidan O'Brien; all but one of his runs for this yard have been over hurdles (won juvenile Grade 2), the exception a 1m4f AW win last December; this is tougher but he may have untapped potential at 1m6f; handles good/soft, unraced on good to firm.

25/1

Form: 2-3112 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Has improved on her French form since moving to Britain, and Chepstow last time was comfortably her best effort yet when responding gamely for pressure to get within a neck of Comfort Zone at Chepstow (soft); has a handy 5lb pull with her conqueror and, while there are others to worry about, she's a definite player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

28th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

11:40 Cheltenham

Dixon Cove

10st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, made challenge home turn, ridden and every chance approaching last, kept on but outpaced run-in

7/2

2nd

10

27th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 1

13:40 Chepstow

Dixon Cove

10st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Placed in all three starts over hurdles in France and is 2-2 for this yard after breezing home at Hereford and digging deep at Aintree (both on good to soft; tongue tied latterly); probably has to find something on the form of that latest Listed success against her own sex but that's perfectly feasible.

7/1

1st

5

3rd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Aintree

Dixon Cove

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Paul Nicholls

Placed in all three starts over hurdles in France (1m7f-2m1f, Auteuil; very soft/heavy), twice finishing ahead of Isaline De Chandou who has improved in the meantime; breezed home at long odds-on at Hereford (2m, good to soft) despite not jumping great and she clearly has an engine.

6/5

Form: 3

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for 60,000gns despite failing to win any of his six Flat starts in Ireland, though did run to a useful level (peak RPR 86); shaped with plenty of promise when third at Ludlow but really had to win there to advertise his credentials for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

9

(7)

30th Apr 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 4

17:15 Musselburgh

Active Duty

9st 8lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Ben Pauling

Patchy form over hurdles this year but he was fourth of seven in a Grade 2 4yo hurdle at Cheltenham in January, and he's on a competitive mark on his best Irish Flat form; respectable run when 10l second of six in a 1m4f AW novice three weeks ago and he's not ruled out.

13/2

2nd

2

(4)

10th Apr 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

14:18 Wolverhampton (AW)

Active Duty

9st 4lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Ben Pauling

Runner-up twice from six starts on turf in Ireland last year and has run some creditable races over hurdles for this yard, albeit beaten out of sight in the Triumph Hurdle last time; likely to find a few of these more progressive on AW debut.

8/1

13th

1

17th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Active Duty

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Ben Pauling

Fairly useful maiden on his day on Flat, best form 1m4f on soft; had gelding and wind operations afterwards; third at Ludlow on hurdles/stable debut and much better form when 12l fourth of seven in Grade 2 here (2m1f, soft) next time; however, lots to find on that form, whereas he was a flop when favourite at Market Rasen on latest outing.

100/1

Form: 1142 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
2-2 in 3yo hurdles in France last year, including a Listed success on very soft; beaten 15l and 17l in small-field juvenile events in Britain (good/soft) and needs to rediscover that French form to be troubling the best of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:35 Uttoxeter

Mombasa

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Showed clear signs of retaining ability at Leicester last time (second run for new yard and since returning from long absence) but needs to build on that effort; faces a stiffer task upped in class.

12/1

3rd

2

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Mombasa

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Won 3yo Listed hurdle in France in June 2022; lightly raced since and tailed off at 22-1 on stable debut and second chase start at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) four weeks ago when back from another absence; not easy to fancy after that latest performance but he's one to watch in the betting.

11/1

Form: 3-1 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
This half-brother to smart stablemate Editeur Du Gite looked hot property when spreadeagling the opposition on soft ground at Newbury (made all; first-time hood); that positive impression was backed up by the figures and he falls into the "could be anything" category.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 198y

16:38 Thurles

Jupiter Du Gite

12st 0lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: T Hogan

Hurdle/chase winner for the Moores in Britain with a peak hurdle rating of 130; some promise in three runs for this yard, notably on latest when fourth of 11 at Navan (2m6f, heavy), staying on from rear to challenge two out, fading late on; player dropped 1lb under top claimer.

9/1

4th

1

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

15:20 Navan

Jupiter Du Gite

12st 1lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: T Hogan

Prominent racer lost way for the Moores in Britain last season and beaten a cumulative distance of 50l in first two runs for this yard last month; mark sliding and good claimer booked so not totally dismissed.

12/1

100/1

Form: 115712 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Suited by testing ground in France where she's won at up to about 2m2f in two hurdle races and a chase from nine starts, virtually all in this headgear; runner-up when last seen on New Year's Day; tough task on British debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Jun 2024

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

18:45 Newton Abbot

Naeva

11st 5lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Alexandra Dunn

Chase and dual hurdle winner on slow ground in France in 2022; well beaten in Grade 2 juvenile hurdle on British debut in January 2023 and not seen again since; could be considered only if lively in the betting here; usual hood removed.

33/1

Form: 63F11F D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Took six goes to win in France and it was only a claimer that he won; had no trouble in disposing of four rivals at Huntingdon (good) but was on the retreat when coming down in Comfort Zone's race at Chepstow and Paddy Brennan deserts him for Scriptwriter this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Fils De Roi

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won hurdle races on very soft ground in France and a 3yo race on good at Huntingdon; ran moderately back from a break last time but did go close at Uttoxeter the time before (2m4f); could go well, though stamina for this far is unproven.

12/1

5

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Fils De Roi

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won hurdle races on very soft ground in France and a 3yo race on good at Huntingdon; ran moderately back from a break last time but did go close at Uttoxeter the time before (2m4f); could go well, though stamina for this far is unproven.

12/1

6th

1

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Fils De Roi

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

351 days off before two runs this autumn, on second occasion showing he stays 2m4f when runner-up at Uttoxeter; he'll need a bit extra to win this, though.

9/2

Non-runners

Fils De Roi

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.00
Straight Forecast £7.04
Tricast £15.66
Trifecta £17.40

Selections

RP Ratings:

Jupiter Du Gite

WEST COUNTRY:

Dixon Cove

SPOTLIGHT:

Scriptwriter

Telegraph:

Comfort Zone

TOPSPEED:

Jupiter Du Gite

POSTDATA:

Jupiter Du Gite

The Times:

Jupiter Du Gite

The Guardian:

Jupiter Du Gite

Daily Mirror:

Jupiter Du Gite

Daily Mail:

Dixon Cove

The Sun:

Dixon Cove

The Star:

Dixon Cove

Daily Record:

Scriptwriter

D Express:

Comfort Zone