15th-Mar-2024

(Message of 9th February 2024)

I am getting Majborough on side now for the Triumph Hurdle, non-runner-no-bet.  Winner of his only hurdle race in France last April, I thought that he ran a big race in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle on his first run for Willie Mullins and JP McManus.

He led at a good, strong pace, his jumping was good and he only ceded the lead to Kargese on the run to the final flight.  Even after he was headed, he showed a really good attitude to keep on as well as he did to retain third place.

He should progress from that, his first run since April, and he is a live Triumph Hurdle candidate now.  Sir Gino sets a high standard in the Triumph Hurdle, his defeat of Burdett Road at Cheltenham was impressive, but the Spring Hurdle is a really good pointer to the Triumph Hurdle.  Two of the last three Spring Hurdle winners, Vauban and Quilixios, went on to win the Triumph Hurdle.  Our Conor did too in 2003.  But beaten horses in the Spring Hurdle have fared even better.  Lossiemouth won the Triumph Hurdle last year, reversing Spring Hurdle paces with her stable companion Gala Marceau.  Farclas won the Triumph Hurdle in 2018, reversing places with Mr Adjudicator.  Ivanovich Gorbatov, Tiger Roll, Countrywide Flame, they were all beaten in the Spring Hurdle before going to Cheltenham and winning the Triumph Hurdle.  Majborough could repeat the feat.

MAJBOROUGH WON (ADV 10/1, SP 6/1)