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

6th

1

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newmarket (July)

Burdett Road

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

2023 Royal Ascot winner who has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; his attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, before 12l tenth at Royal Ascot (1m4f; restless in the stalls) continued that trend; falling in the weights but needs a revival.

40/1

10th

1

(11)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Burdett Road

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

Won 1m2f handicap at this meeting in 2023 and has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, but edged down the weights as a result and this drop back in trip can help.

28/1

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

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

1

13th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:12 Newton Abbot

Ellerton

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made it 2-4 for this stable when winning a 2m1f handicap hurdle here in May and followed that with a respectable second off 5lb higher back here a fortnight later; has plenty in his favour on this chase debut.

2/1

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

12th

7

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:17 Perth

Cosmic Soul

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

His hat-trick (2m1f-2m4f; good) has come at a cost mark-wise but it was all very straightforward last time at Sedgefield; something has clicked big time and he could deal with another 6lb.

100/30

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

+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