MONTY'S STAR TO OUTSHINE CHAMP

Racing Ahead

March 2025

Ben Morgan’s brave call to oppose red-hot Galopin’s Gold Cup treble bid

TRIUMPH HURDLE

The opener on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is shaping up to be an interesting race. We have 3 horses at the top of the market who have never met and their individual form lines have yet to be tested.

I'm interested to see who comes out on top but I have a sneak suspicion it might be the current favourite LULAMBA who looked a little bit good on debut at Ascot.

That performance added plenty of meat to the bones in terms of the hype that was surrounding him at the time. Talk of him working well with Jonbon was quickly played down but for him to move from 25/1 into 4/1 without running suggests he did a good bit of work with something pretty useful of Nicky's. His slick jumping and powerful running technique looks perfectly suited to the Triumph and I anticipate him to be hard to beat.

His main market rival East India Dock looks set to make this a strongly run race and he has been impressive so far too. You can cast doubts over what he has beaten but he can only beat what is in front of him and he has done it in good style. I don't think he has the scope of the selection however and is opposable at 5/2.

Hello Neighbour seems to be the leading Irish juvenile and he did surprise me last time when beating a good field at DRF. He looks like he needs to be played late though as he didn't find much at all when he hit the front but in a field like this it is possible to do just that. I think he is next best behind the selection but his price reflects that.

Of the rest, Galileo Dame could be interesting as she seems to be improving with every run. Her price of 20/1 underestimates her chance and I think she could improve again and hit the frame.

Lady Vega Allen has a bit to find based on her run at DRF whilst Mondo Man will have to settle better if he is to feature.