Triumph Hurdle According on the slide?

According blew out big style on his hurdling debut at Sandown having been punted into second-favourite for the Triumph which totally bemused Nicky Henderson who stated after his grey ran as green as grass that he was one of a few juveniles they had to come out in the coming weeks but he certainly didn’t give the impression he felt he was unquestionably their best.

Also well beaten in that race was Prince Pippin who is now the third horse from Advisor’s race at Ascot to run below expectations next time out so that look form is looking very dodgy for Paul Nicholls’ charge.

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Both Irish winners at the weekend, Carlito Brigante and Pittoni advanced their claims and the former won the Scottish Triumph Hurdle at Musselburgh with some panache. It was a convincing performance from Gordon Elliott’s charge as the runner-up, Ultimate, looks a real speed track specialist but was comfortably brushed aside with the race surely coming too soon for last week’s Finesse Hurdle winner, Baccalaureate.

Pittoni also took the eye winning what is traditionally Ireland’s best guide to the Triumph Hurdle but their shortest three in the betting for Cheltenham at the time bypassed the race so it looked weaker than usual but the winner put the race to bed very nicely.