January 27 / 12.05 Cheltenham

12.05

Good To Soft

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

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

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1-1 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Very promising hurdler who bagged Listed honours at Auteuil (heavy) on sole French start; easily followed up at Kempton (good to soft) where he backed up Nicky Henderson's very positive Stable Tour comments and showed he's a major Triumph Hurdle contender; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Sir Gino

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Appears to handle any ground; impressive on chase debut prior to picking up a serious injury; returned from 12-month absence to readily justify favouritism and clock a very fast time in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day for a third Grade 1 success, proving that he's recovered well from the setback and confirming that he's a hugely exciting jumps horse who is still a potential champion in the making; rising star who remains unbeaten (7-7).

2/5

10/11

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 11 C

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Impressive in similar event at this venue (soft) ten weeks ago, taking hurdles record to 2-2 and confirming that he has serious ability (scored at Royal Ascot on the Flat last year); versatile ground-wise; current favourite for the Triumph Hurdle and should have plenty more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:50 Kempton

Burdett Road

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Not in top form since returned to the Flat but solid hurdles record (1121322) suggests a resurgence is likely; ran creditably, albeit fortunate to finish second the way things panned out, in the Champion Hurdle when last seen in this sphere; has the best chance at the weights.

4/5

6th

3

(2)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Burdett Road

9st 7lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: James Owen

Runner-up (albeit fortunate) in the Champion Hurdle in March and easily made all in this last year (soft; seems versatile ground-wise); he enjoyed the run of the race 12 months ago and hasn't shone on his two Flat starts this year, but he drops back in grade today and may once more benefit from an uncontested lead; could make another bold bid now back here.

7/1

8th

4

(8)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Burdett Road

9st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: James Owen

Won the Golden Gates Handicap at this meeting in 2023 (1m2f, good to firm) and was a Listed winner at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) last September; runner-up in the Champion Hurdle in March, albeit fortunate; failed to settle when tailed off back on the Flat at Sandown (2m) last month and this drop back in trip seems a likely plus, but a Flat career best is required.

20/1

Form: 233 BF

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Favourite for similar event here in November but finished only third, 7l behind Burdett Road; however, now gets a 5lb pull with that opponent and remains of interest; penultimate effort, namely solid third in Auteuil Grade 2, gives him a fighting chance on the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

16:30 Chepstow

Milan Tino

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Tom George

Won at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) in December on second chase start; he hasn't kicked on from that on his two outings since but it was still a respectable effort behind a well-handicapped winner at Leicester (2m, heavy) last time and he could have a big part to play today.

13/8

2nd

2

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 3

14:05 Leicester

Milan Tino

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

0-9 over hurdles but he made it second time lucky over fences when scoring at Ludlow (2m, good to soft; 12-1) in December; should have more to offer in this sphere but he was disappointing at Doncaster 19 days ago and needs to bounce back after that.

9/2

4th

8

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Milan Tino

10st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Opened his account in Ludlow contest (2m, good to soft; second chase attempt) most recently; may well build on that success and improve further over fences; upped in class but receives plenty of weight all round; interesting contender.

7/2

Form: 2

Last run: 81 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made a promising and solid debut at Warwick (soft) in November, finishing clear second behind subsequent Grade 2 scorer Salver; interesting contender, being open to any amount of progress and bringing strong form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 3

14:40 Exeter

Excelero

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Has a record of 1-1 at Exeter (hurdles win) but needs to rebound, having performed below market expectations in two starts since Warwick chase success, failing to back up that form.

7/2

4th

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

14:05 Warwick

Excelero

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Three-time hurdle winner who built on encouraging seasonal/chase debut when readily winning three-runner C&D (soft) contest in November; raced too freely and was disappointing favourite at Ascot last month but remains one to be interested in.

11/4

2

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

12:55 Warwick

Excelero

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Three-time winner over hurdles from eight attempts; made his chasing debut in a warm affair at Worcester (2m4f, good; winner won a Listed race at Cheltenham on Friday) last month and shaped well in fourth, only giving best at the last; should benefit from that outing and this is easier.

11/4

Form: 23 BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Went close at Auteuil (very soft) on sole French outing and wasn't disgraced, albeit beaten favourite, in Listed race at Aintree (heavy) for new yard; still open to improvement but this looks a stiff task on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 4

14:20 Plumpton

Le Fauve

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Six-race maiden but was placed in a Listed hurdle early last season and shaped encouragingly in a good race on his reappearance; disappointing when only 13-8 for a maiden hurdle last time (after wind surgery) but reportedly bled from the nose; has something to prove on ground this dry but has to be of interest on chasing/handicap debut.

5/1

Form: 732 BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful on Flat in France but has plenty to find on hurdles form, beaten favourite at Fontwell most recently; gelded since and now goes in cheekpieces; those two factors need to prompt marked improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:56 Newton Abbot

Ellerton

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made it 2-3 for Joe Tizzard when scoring back from another break at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good; 100-30) two weeks ago; up 5lb but that was a comfortable win from off the pace and this step back up in trip should be fine (first hurdle win was over 2m4f); big player.

11/8

1st

3

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

19:00 Newton Abbot

Ellerton

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

First run for Joe Tizzard when justifying market confidence at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March last year and unlikely he gave his true running when well beaten after a 7lb rise at Taunton in November; could be given another chance, though lengthy breaks have become a feature in his profile.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden on Flat for James Horton, runner-up in 2m handicap at Thirsk when last seen; sold for 35,000gns since; the only runner who has no hurdling experience and it looks a tough starting point.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Cosmic Soul

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Kickstarted 2026 with a Flat success at Southwell and he's bagged back-to-back handicaps here since, readily landing the odds over C&D 13 days ago; hiked up 10lb now but thriving and still the one to beat.

11/8

1st

5

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Cosmic Soul

11st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Won on the Flat at Southwell (2m, AW) in January and followed up here (2m1f, good) last Tuesday, which was his second run in a handicap hurdle; escapes a penalty for that recent win and there can be considerable optimism that he'll be suited by this step up in trip; could be tough to beat.

5/4

1st

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:38 Sedgefield

Cosmic Soul

11st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Runner-up to a dual subsequent winner on handicap hurdle debut at Perth (2m, good) in September and reverts to this discipline after clearcut 2m AW win in January; could still have untapped potential over jumps; must be considered.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.90
Straight Forecast £3.08
Trifecta £5.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Burdett Road

POSTDATA:

Sir Gino

WEST COUNTRY:

Excelero

LAMBOURN:

Sir Gino

The Times:

Sir Gino

D Express:

Sir Gino

The Sun:

Sir Gino

Daily Record:

Sir Gino

RP RATINGS:

Burdett Road

TOPSPEED:

Burdett Road

NEWMARKET:

Burdett Road

Telegraph:

Burdett Road

The Guardian:

Burdett Road

Daily Mail:

Burdett Road

Daily Mirror:

Burdett Road

The Star:

Burdett Road