JCB Triumph Hurdle Analysis

Since 1984 Irish-trained horses have prevailed in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on five occasions, most recently courtesy of Willie Mullins's Scolardy in 2002.

This year's 21 Irish entries are headed by the Noel Meade-trained Arch Rebel, who made a winning debut over timber in a Grade Two juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, when getting the better of Don't Be Bitin by five lengths.

Strangely Brown, trained by Eric McNamara, is also unbeaten over hurdles, winning twice - most recently in a Grade Three juvenile event at Punchestown earlier this month, keeping on well to deny Sky's The Limit by one and a half lengths.

This season Willie Mullins's only hope is Galarini, who was unable to justify favouritism in a three-year-old maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, finishing fifth to Sound Blaster with Majlis in second.

Among the home contingent, Alan King will be hoping to build on his first Festival victory last season and his four entries include Penzance, Daryal, Innocent Rebel and Voy Por Ustedes.

The master of Barbury Castle had a rare bet on the former for this competitive event before he made an eight-length winning bow in a novices' hurdle at Taunton on January 10, running on well to hold off Amarula Ridge, and Penzance followed up in a similar event at Huntingdon on Wednesday, while Daryal also won a novices' hurdle at Taunton in January.

Innocent Rebel was a distant runner-up behind Waltzing Beau in a juvenile novices' hurdle at Fontwell recently and King's quartet is completed by Voy Por Ustedes, a two-time winner in France for Guillaume Macaire who unseated his rider on his British debut at Lingfield last month, but made amends by winning a novices' hurdle from a previous winner at Huntingdon on Wednesday

Patrick Haslam has had a great season with Yankeedoodledandy, unbeaten in three outings including the Mr Crumb Premium Stuffings Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park in December, when forging clear in the final 50 yards to beat Napolitain by four lengths.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe has won this event twice with Baron Blakeney in 1981 and Kissair 14 years later. This year the Nicholashayne-based handler has three possibles in the form of Miss Academy, Nous Voila and Windyx.

The former rewarded favourite backers on her British debut in a mares' only maiden hurdle at Newcastle this month, Nous Voila has yet to jump a hurdle in public but interestingly was beaten two lengths by Miss Academy on the Flat at Maisons-Laffitte in September, and Windyx has also yet to start in a jump race.

Francois Doumen's Danaw figures prominently among the four French-trained possibles. His three victories last year include success in a Grade Three hurdle at Enghien in November.

The Gallic entries are completed by Arnaud Chaille-Chaille's Bonbon Rose, the winner of four hurdles in France in 2004 including three at Auteuil, Thomas Trapenard's Listed hurdle winner Don't Be Shy and Sai Si, trained by Rupert Pritchard-Gordon.

Brighton-based Gary Moore has an abundance of riches in this division this year in the form of Salut Saint Cloud, Diego Cao and New Entic. The former won a Grade Two contest at Lingfield in December, beating Patrixprial by four lengths with previous Huntingdon scorer New Entic in fourth, while Diego Cao has won two of his three starts in juvenile novices' hurdles.