Triumph Hurdle

The Cheltenham Festival day four opening race is the Triumph Hurdle. The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 race over two miles and one furlong. Horses must be four-years-old in order to qualify for the race.

The Cheltenham Festival day four opening race is important because it's one of the most exciting of the whole four days. Some of the best four-year-old horses in National Hunt racing take part in the race before the Cheltenham Gold Cuplater in the day.

There is a level weight requirement of 11 stones for this race with a seven pound allowance for fillies.

Story of the Triumph Hurdle

The story of the Triumph Hurdle started in 1939 when the race was established as a two mile contest in Hurst Park, Surrey. The race was originally dominated by horses that were bred and trained in France but has seen regular winners from Ireland and Germany in recent years.

The Triumph Hurdle was first run at Cheltenham in April 1965. It was decided that the Triumph Hurdle would be held during the racecourse's April Meeting. The story of the Triumph Hurdle really exploded in 1968 when the race became a regular part of the Cheltenham Festival.

The story of the Triumph Hurdle has always been dominated by some of the best young horses National Hunt racing has ever seen. The likes of Persian War and Katchit have gone on to win higher profile races during their careers.

Prestigious Cheltenham Festival Records

As the Triumph Hurdle is one of the highest profile races in the National Hunt calendar, the race is home to some of the most prestigious Cheltenham Festival records.

Two jockeys hold prestigious Cheltenham Festival records in the race for most winners; Jimmy Uttley (Persian War, Englandís Glory and Boxer) and Barry Geraghty (Spectroscope, Zaynar and Soldatino).

Nicky Henderson has one of the most prestigious Cheltenham Festival records because heís one of the few trainers with five winners from a single race; First Bout, Alone Success, Katarino, Zaynar and Soldatino.

Unique Cheltenham Festival Races

The Triumph Hurdle is one of the unique Cheltenham Festival races because no one horse can dominate the race over an extended period like the Gold Cup or the Grand National.

The Triumph Hurdle is one of the unique Cheltenham Festival races because there is a guaranteed new winner every single year. This keeps betting fresh and exciting and ensures that trainers take the race seriously instead of saving their stronger horses for other contests.

Triumph Hurdle Title Holder

Soldatino is the current Triumph Hurdle title holder. The Triumph Hurdle has been somewhat of a spring board for Soldatino because the Nicky Henderson horse has gone on to win higher quality and bigger races.

Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson are each a Triumph Hurdle title holder. Geraghty and Henderson are one of the most successful combinations in the history of National Hunt racing and play a big part in the story of the Triumph Hurdle.