Harry Cobden hails Monmiral the best juvenile he's sat on after impressive win

The jockey is looking forward to jumping a fence while the trainer believes there's more hay to be made over hurdles. Whatever the future holds for Monmiral, it looks a bright one after streaking clear of JCB Triumph Hurdle runner-up Adagio to confirm himself the best juvenile in Britain.

Monmiral was making it four wins from as many starts under a confident Harry Cobden and fully vindicated the decision to sidestep the Cheltenham Festival.

Adagio sat on Monmiral's tail going to the last but the winner soared over the flight, while Tom Scudamore's mount was anything but fluent.

In winning, Monmiral secured the middle leg of a famous Grade 1 treble for owners Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and John Hales.

Monmiral received a quote of 25-1 from 40 for next season's Champion Hurdle from Paddy Power, who go 40-1 for the Arkle Novices' Chase.

And it is chasing that Cobden is looking forward to in Monmiral's future.

Monmiral is launched at the last by Harry Cobden as Adagio makes a mistakeCredit: Jonathan Grossick

"He's a proper Grade 1 horse and the best juvenile I've sat on," said Cobden who, when asked about a Champion Hurdle campaign, added: "I'd rather see him jump a fence. He travels well and jumps great. He's probably beaten the best English juvenile; he’s top class."

In Monmiral's absence at Cheltenham, Quilixios seized control of the juvenile division in landing the Triumph Hurdle, in which he finished three and a quarter lengths to the good over Adagio.

Monmiral's advantage was double that, although Adagio's mistake at the last may have exaggerated the winner's dominance.

Nicholls confessed he had been "itching" to tackle the Triumph and it was the owners who were keen to wait for Aintree.

And he didn't rule out another season over hurdles before Cobden gets his wish to let fly over fences with the strapping son of Saint Des Saints.

"He's just kept on improving and getting stronger as the season has gone on and today I thought was the best he's looked," said Nicholls.

"It's just hard for the novice chasers at five [years old] these days. They don't get much weight allowance in the spring and taking on the older horses in the spring is quite hard.

"If he had another year over hurdles it wouldn't do him any harm and then he could go novice chasing five into six.

"It might be nice to start him in something like the Fighting Fifth on a galloping track and then we'd know where we were going. It's something to think about over the summer."

Adagio was bought by Tom Malone out of a mile and a half claimer at Clairefontaine for €25,500 and has won Chepstow's Finale Hurdle in addition to his two Grade 1 runners-up efforts.

David Pipe said: "He ran a great race. Obviously, the mistake at the last didn't help, but he’s had an amazing season. Win, lose or draw he’s come out of a claimer, so it's been amazing what he's done."

Watch: Monmiral stakes his claim as the best juvenile around

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