The Triumph Hurdle is part of the Cheltenham Festival held in March of each year and is for novice hurdlers. It has an excellent prize purse and attracts some of the most significant name horses in National Hunt racing. The race is held on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, and it is the opening race of this day.
History
The first race came about in 1939 and was held in Surrey for many years. However, the racecourse closed in 1962, and the event did not happen for two years after. In 1968 it was decided that the race should be part of the Cheltenham Festival. The race has always been cast as the lead up to the Champion Hurdle. Some believe that the race has lost some of its prestige since the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle started at the festival in 2005.
The Race
The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race which is only open to horses aged four years. The distance of the race is 2 miles and 1 furlong or 3,382 metres run over eight hurdles only as the horses are juvenile novice hurdlers. The race is the most prestigious of the year for the juvenile novice hurdlers. There is still plenty of excitement and controversy during the races.
Predicting the Winner
A prediction of the winner can confidently be made in a few races leading up to the hurdle such as the Leopardstown’s Spring Juvenile Hurdle which is a Grade 1 event held at the Dublin Festival. Over the last 20 years, six winners have gone on to win the Triumph Hurdle. The Adonis Juvenile Novices Hurdle run at Kempton is seen as one of the best tests for British runners.
Predicting a winner is never easy, but there are a few indicators for the Triumph Hurdle. The race is still a major part of the Cheltenham Festival and still attracts large winnings.