Triumph Hurdle: get the inside track and Video Tip
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 12 Mar 2026
Minella Study
Cheltenham Festival success may have eluded Adam Nicol during his time in the saddle, but the unbeaten Minella Study has the rookie handler dreaming of glory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Minella Study is the only runner at the meeting for Nicol’s fledgling northern operation as they send their course-and-distance winner, who has been kept fresh since striking here in December.
Nicol said: “Everything has gone spot on and we’ve had him at the same weight as he was in December for the last three weeks, so we’ve not been chasing our tail.
“I think the Triumph will have the best of the ground on the day, it should be beautiful. They don’t look to be finishing tired and the ones that go forward aren’t stopping, so I don’t think there’s a lot of soft in there, albeit you do need to stay.”
Star mount Lady Buttons provided some of Nicol’s biggest days but he now has a horse – who he primes on the beaches in the shadow of the picturesque Bamburgh Castle – with a quality book of form ready to take his chance on the biggest stage.
“I only ever had a handful of rides at Cheltenham and my best horse was Lady Buttons who never really acted at the track. But it’s great to take this lad there as a trainer and I think he deserves to be there on all known form,” Nicol said.
“A few people have said if Willie trained him he would be favourite and I’m not sure if that’s writing me off a little bit.
“But for me, from the day our lad won at Cheltenham he has just got stronger and stayed strong.
“I’m looking forward to it and he’s in top nick. We’re going there with one horse and one bullet and if he’s in the same form as December, I don’t think he will be far away.”
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Maestro Conti
Joining Minella Study in the British charge is Dan Skelton’s Maestro Conti, who is also unbeaten and arrives with a course-and-distance success to his name having impressed on Trials day.
“I feel like this is one of our best chances of the whole week,” said Skelton. “He’s a lovely horse.
“His work is getting better, as it should do as he’s young and we haven’t had him that long, but it is visible and it’s quite exciting.
“Historically when we’ve had horses like him going into spring targets, and their work is improving like that, they’re going to run big.”
Mullins landed his fourth straight Triumph Hurdle with 100-1 chance Poniros last year and has a nine-strong team again, headed by Fairyhouse one-two Proactif and Macho Man.
Also high up on the bookmakers’ lists is Selma De Vary, who was second to injured stablemate Narciso Has on his yard debut at Leopardstown and could follow in the footsteps of owner Rich Ricci’s Vauban and Lossiemouth.
Selma De Vary
Ricci’s racing manager Joe Chambers said: “Selma De Vary is a pocket rocket and a natural two-miler, but she only came to us in December and it is very hard for French horses to adapt, for all she is a lovely horse.”
Highland Crystal represents Gordon Elliott and saw the form of her most recent win at Naas franked by runner-up Saratoga, who won the Fred Winter on Tuesday.
Robbie Power, racing manager for owners Robcour, said: “She got a good form boost off Saratoga and she’s a lovely filly who has done nothing wrong all season.
“She’s in good form and I think she’ll handle all types of ground, but a bit of rain might help. She’s been getting better all season and hopefully she can run a big race.”
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