Keith Melrose casts his expert eye over what should be a fiercely run Triumph

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m1f | New course | 4yo | ITV/RTV

While it is logical to use ratings as a measure of racehorse merit, it is more rational to believe that mature betting markets are an even better guide.

Which is a roundabout way of saying that the BHA handicapper probably did get a bit excited when rating Solo 157 for his undoubtedly impressive Adonis win. He has upwards of 5lb on his rivals on those figures, but he is no longer favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.

Bet offer

Sky Bet are paying money back if your horse finishes second, third, fourth or fifth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Not got a Sky Bet account? Sign up today and get £20 in free bets when you place a £5 bet. Click here to claim offer

First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 2 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org

Solo's Adonis win, achieved on the bridle at a speed track, appeals as the best piece of juvenile form this season. He is taking the same route as his trainer's second Triumph winner, Zarkandar (Nicholls also won the race with Celestial Halo in 2008), and plenty of other recent Triumph winners besides. He deserves to be clear favourite.

Before Solo burst on to the scene, the Triumph Hurdle was a unique puzzle. There were three other main contenders closely matched and, most interestingly, all seemingly best employed on the front.

Allmankind, Aspire Tower and Goshen are all unbeaten when completing over hurdles and only Goshen has any concept of what it is like to have a horse in front of him in a hurdles race.

Goshen, who is the outright favourite with many bookmakers, is the most interesting study. He reached a useful level on the Flat (posting an RPR of 97 on his final start) and has won his three hurdles starts by a combined 68 lengths. He is accordingly hard to contain and tends to jump out to his right. Were this race at Ascot or Sandown, he might be even shorter in the market.

Goshen: three from three over hurdles this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

One of Goshen's main problems could be Harry Skelton and Allmankind. Skelton now has his magnum opus after giving Politologue a signature ride to win the Champion Chase on Wednesday. He has shown similar assertiveness and guile on Allmankind, including a win here and in the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow. He has been freshened up for this since the latter, on Welsh National day.

Aspire Tower is the only one to have tasted defeat, and even then he looked the likeliest winner of a Grade 1 when falling at the last. A Wave Of The Sea picked up the pieces and would be well placed to do so again, albeit only if the pace gets self-destructive.

It is worth wondering what price Sir Psycho would be but for stablemate Solo's emergence. He has progressed markedly on his last two starts, comfortably winning an established trial at Haydock last time. He is bred for the Flat, so should not need the mud, and has potential.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Solo could kickstart a Friday to remember for Nicholls

Prior to the start of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, champion trainer Paul Nicholls predicted that Friday could be the best day of the week for him.

When you look at his squad for the final day you can understand why. Leading the way is runaway King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Nicholls also has leading fancies for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase and JCB Triumph Hurdle.

In the latter Solo is the name on everyone's lips. The handsome son of Kapgarde, who, unusually for jumping, is still an entire, was an emphatic winner on his British debut for Nicholls when capturing the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton last month.

“He won that race very nicely the other day and that’s a race we obviously won with Zarkandar before he went and won the Triumph,” Nicholls said. “There are some good horses in the race this year and it’s going to be tough, but we’re very pleased with him and we’ll know more about how good he is after the race.

Solo: 'We're very pleased with him and we'll know more about how good he is after the race'Credit: Edward Whitaker

“We don’t have to make the running with him, he only did so because I told Harry [Cobden] to go out and keep it simple and he was the best horse in the race. They’ll go off in front and we’ll sit handy, we’re more than happy with that. He’s a dead simple horse to deal with.”

Solo will be joined in the race by stablemate Sir Psycho, and Nicholls added: “He's the solid option in the race. He’ll gallop all day and I think he'll run well.”

Nicholls has twice won the Triumph Hurdle, but it is over fences on the final day of the meeting where he tends to excel.

Alongside his four Gold Cup winners, he has landed the Grand Annual four times, including twice in the last four years, and the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase four times, most recently with back-to-back scorer Pacha Du Polder (2017-18).

Given how used to success he is on the last day of Cheltenham, Nicholls’ comments seem all the more logical and could well prove to be right once again.
Peter Scargill

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Allmankind
I'm very pleased with him and we've kept him fresh for this, which we think will benefit him. I think the three British horses have the strongest form and it's going to be a tough race, but we're really pleased with him. Tactics aren't a question with him, he'll make the running.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Aspire Tower
He's taken really well to hurdling and we were delighted with him on his first two starts at Punchestown and Leopardstown. It's obviously not ideal coming into the race on the back of a fall but he's been in good form at home since and we're hoping for a good run.

Aspire Tower: lost unbeaten record over hurdles at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gary Moore, trainer of Goshen
I'll leave how he's going to be ridden to the jockey as I don't think you can go out with a set plan for a race with as many front-runners as this. He's in good form and it depends on what the ground is like for his chances. The softer it is and the more emphasis on stamina, the better for him and his chances.

Alan King, trainer of Lord Lamington
He'll benefit from drying ground. He couldn't quicken as I'd hoped when second at Kempton last time and that was probably down to the very soft going. It was still a decent effort, giving the winner weight, and he's in fine shape after a break. Although he has something to find with the big guns in what looks a high-class running, he's still progressing.

Donald McCain, trainer of Navajo Pass
He should be going into the race unbeaten as he was mugged on the line at Newcastle and has won either side of that. It looks a tough race but I'm really pleased with him and I think the track and stamina test will bring out the best in him. I think he'll run really well.

John McConnell, trainer of Never Do Nothing
We can put a line through his Leopardstown run as he wasn’t right after that but we think he’s coming here in great form. If he could come back to the sort of level he showed when winning his maiden hurdle at Musselburgh he might have a squeak.

Paul Townend, rider of Burning Victory
She was a good winner at Fairyhouse. She did everything wrong to be honest and still won so that is a good sign. We've worked on her jumping at home and she seems to be jumping a lot slicker now. I don’t know how good that form is. I think the English form of the juveniles is a bit stronger than the Irish but the fact that she did everything wrong and still won at Fairyhouse means there will be plenty to come from her.

Spotlight verdict

Aspire Tower's easy Grade 2 win at Leopardstown reads very well and he perhaps wasn't at his best in a Grade 1 back there last time, where he'd been joined when falling at the final flight. However, Cerberus was the one alongside and had been put in his place by Allmankind in a Grade 1 at Chepstow previously, so the British may well hold sway over the Irish today. Allmankind is respected, despite his headstrong tendencies and the likelihood he'll be taken on for the lead by Aspire Tower (and possibly others) but this could be between two other British-trained runners. Preference is for Solo, a French recruit who was highly impressive when winning the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton last month on his first run for Paul Nicholls. Goshen is second choice, having won with lots in hand on all three hurdle starts.
Ben Hutton

You can now place bets with Sky Bet without leaving the free Racing Post app. Log in to your account in the Accounts tab in the bottom right of update to latest version or the app to get started