JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial
Juvenile Hurdle, Cheltenham 12:10
£25,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
2m 179y, Class 2  
Saturday 13th December 2025

BetPlay

1 Minella Study 5/1
2 Winston Junior 10/1
3 One Horse Town 4/6F
10 ran Distances: 6½l, 3¼l, 1¼l
Time: 4m 3.97s (slow by 6.97s)

Adam Nicol’s Minella Study continued his rapid ascent through the juvenile ranks with a decisive success in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham, preserving his unbeaten record in thoroughly convincing fashion.

Wins at Musselburgh and Wetherby had already suggested he was well above average for the time of year, but this was a performance that marked him down as a serious prospect. Prominent throughout alongside Harry Derham’s four-time winner One Horse Town, the race appeared set for a straight fight between the pair as they swung for home.

Ryan Mania, however, was clearly content with what he had beneath him. Allowing his mount to stride on approaching the last, the Grand National-winning jockey watched Minella Study ping the final hurdle and stretch clear with authority. The 5-1 chance powered away to score by six and a half lengths from Winston Junior, with the odds-on favourite One Horse Town left to fill third spot.

In the immediate aftermath, Coral installed the winner at 16-1 for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and his trainer was already looking ahead to a possible March return.

Nicol said: “He works very well this horse. I gave him a blow earlier in the week and he showed great speed. The thing about this horse is he doesn’t know he’s a racehorse yet.

“He’s going from strength to strength, he has speed and he travels.

“I have some fantastic owners and the plan is to let the dust settle, then probably go to Musselburgh on January 31 (on Cheltenham Trials day) where he will hopefully chase a few off before heading for the Triumph.”

Mania, equally impressed by the display, felt there was still more to come.

“He took me through the race at Wetherby well last time but not like he did today, he felt like a different animal.

“I still don’t think we know how good he is, he’s so settled and relaxed.

“I was told not to get to the front too soon but I couldn’t help it! We came here to find out how good he is and I still don’t think we know.”

JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Juvenile Hurdle)
£25,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 2m 179y, Class 2
10 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Minella Study 3 11-7 Adam Nicol Ryan Mania 5/1
2 6½ Winston Junior 3 11-0 Faye Bramley Harry Cobden 10/1
3 3¼ One Horse Town 2 3 11-7 Harry Derham Paul O'Brien 4/6F
4 1¼ Wolf Rayet 3 11-0 Samuel Drinkwater Robert Dunne 22/1
5 9 Crooked Path 3 11-0 Denis Gerard Hogan Jonathan Burke 66/1
6 hd Macshadow Des Crai 3 11-0 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 12/1
7 4¼ Westlain 3 11-4 Jack Jones Lorcan Williams 40/1
8 19 Cinammon Coco 3 11-4 Joseph O'Brien Richard Deegan 28/1
FELL Matiwo 3 11-0 Jane Williams Ciaran Gethings 14/1
PU Arnolphe 3 11-0 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 16/1

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