1.20 2m. 179yds. 8 Declared. JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £93,750.00 4-y-o
1st - €52,753.00 2nd - €19,875.00 3rd - €9,947.00 4th - €4,969.00 5th - €2,494.00 6th - €1,247.00 7th - €619.00 8th - €319.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - A first-time tongue-tie is a notable, and slightly puzzling, declaration for ZANAHIYR and he can maintain his unbeaten hurdles record. ZANAHIYR's form has been excellent, with his Leopardstown Christmas win being impressive and while runner-up Busselton was beaten in yesterday's Boodles, fourth-placed Saint Sam finished second yesterday, giving weight to ZANAHIYR's effort, with drying not likely to inconvenience. Saint Sam is indeed a good gauge between ZANAHIYR and Quilixios, a Grade 1 winner in February and a big danger. Strictly on form, Saint Sam is a 9lbs lesser horse than ZANAHIYR (who also won eased down) while Quilixios, on February form, has just 5.5lbs in hand over Saint Sam, suggesting ZANAHIYR has an edge. Tritonic finished second in the inaugural running of the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot last June and while impressive in two hurdle wins and being open to improvement, his immediate victim in both races was beaten at Stratford on Monday. Tritonic however will be ideally suited to drying ground and should play a part at the business end. The form of Adagio's Grade 1 Chepstow win is suspect, given the 2.5L runner has been beaten twice since including a 10th placing in yesterday's Boodles, although Adagio is a previous CD winner which will stand to him. Haut En Couleurs is a fascinating runner for Willie Mullins. He won his only previous start at Auteuil last October and while the lack of a recent run isn't a problem coming from his yard, drying ground isn't ideal given his French win was on heavy.