Grade Two Triumph Hurdle Trial Guide 2023

Comfort Zone had a few starts on the flat where he won just once before being sent hurdling last November. He made a success of his debut over the smaller obstacles where he beat the Gordon Elliot trained Jazzy Matty by 6 lengths.

The form from that race was strong as the latter and third-placed horse both went on to win next time out. A Grade 3 outing was next on the agenda, but he ended up finishing third behind a couple of talented individuals from the Willie Mullins yard in Zarak The Brave and current favourite for this year's Triumph, Lossiemouth.

He stepped up in Grade last time out beating a rival who he faces again here in Dixon Cove by just a neck so it will be interesting to see if he can get the better of that filly again here.

Form continues to look strong so he has to be of interest in what will be his second test in Grade 2 company.

Scriptwriter is a very interesting runner and could well be the one they all have to beat if he can prove his worth over hurdles again for what would be the third time. He is currently unbeaten over the smaller obstacles and will look to make it 3-3 here.

He was a fairly easy winner on hurdling bow when winning a maiden at Sedgefield in October. Connections must think a lot of this horse as he was then pitched straight into Grade 2 company next time out.

The decision to send him there worked wonders as he was victorious again beating a horse in second who went on to win next time out so the form also racks up.

Trainer Milton Harris then opted to send his 4-year-old to Wolverhampton to run on the flat over 1m4f last time out and yet again it proved to be the correct decision as he just got his head in front. Should continue his good form over hurdles so he holds very strong claims.

Trainer Paul Nicholls seems to be making steady progress with this 4-year-old filly as she seems to be improving with each run. Had three runs in France before joining the Nicholls yard where she won her first two starts at Hereford and Aintree.

After winning on her penultimate run which was in Class 1 company, she then stepped up to a Grade 2 contest where she was narrowly beaten by a rival she faces again here in Comfort Zone. She can certainly reverse that form here and jockey Harry Cobden is riding out of his skin at the moment so that can further enhance her chances to take this.

Ground conditions may be slightly different from what she has been used to, but that may not go against her too much if she has the ability to cope with that.

Rates a big player to the rest of the field.

This 4-year-old was formerly trained in Ireland and ran on the flat six times before joining the Ben Pauling yard last year. He was never successful on the flat so more will be expected from him now going hurdling.

Active Duty made his debut over hurdles 22 days ago and managed to put up a decent effort as he finished third, but that was just in Class 3 company so he will need to do a whole lot more in this for what will be his second start over the smaller obstacles.

One of the big-priced outsiders who may have better days ahead in weaker-looking contests compared to a race such as this.

It is early days for him and he will come on more for his runs once he has more experience behind him.

Mombasa showed a fair bit of promise over in France where he was 2-2 over hurdles before joining the Philip Hobbs yard. This 4-year-old grey has not continued that form on British soil as he has disappointed in two runs that came in Class 4 and Class 3 company at Fontwell and Sandown.

He will find it tough against a few in here who have shown more potential in their earlier runs compared to him and running around Cheltenham will not make the task any easier.

Jockey Mr David Maxwell also owns the horse so he is probably best equipped to ride him for what will be the third time. One to ignore at a big price.

Trainer Fergal O'Brien will be hoping for a few winners this weekend as he always seems to notch up a couple during this meeting. Fils De Roi may not be the horse to give him a winner as he looks likely to go off at a big price.

This 4-year-old son of Saint Des Saints did not show the worst form over in France before making a winning debut for this yard in a Class 4 event at Huntingdon last October. He beat Admiralty House by 4 1/4 lengths and won comfortably in the end so more will be needed here to see him go close.

He fell at the last on his most recent start where he stepped up in Grade, but he was fading during the latter stages anyway so that may suggest he is not quite good enough to win a race such as this just yet.

The second filly in this year's lineup, but she is one who will be making her first start on British soil after winning a few races overseas in France. It remains an unknown to see whether or not she will be good enough to go close on her UK debut and her price suggests she is not fancied.

She drops back down in trip, but this will be a whole new experience for her so it will be interesting to see how she fares on this occasion.

Hard to make any case for her as we just do not know much about the horse at this stage of her career so one that can be easily dismissed.

Jupiter Du Gite caused a massive upset just after Christmas at Newbury where he won on his hurdling debut for the Gary Moore yard. He won at huge odds of 66/1 yet was totally unchallenged as he bolted up by a whopping 15 lengths.

No surprise to see him step up in Grade here as he must be a talented individual after that display and there is no reason why he cannot go close in this contest.

Remains with plenty of potential and will have a lot more energy to give after winning so easily last time out. Should be in the mix at the very least and could be one to put in your tracker for the remainder of this campaign and the future too as he is only 4 years of age.