Triumph Hurdle Tips: Mullins’ dominance has forced the Brits to Study

Friday is Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival but the action kicks off with the Triumph Hurdle (13:20 GMT), which has been dominated by Willie Mullins in recent years.

The Irishman has trained five of the past six winners, including each of the previous four. So it appears as though his yard will take some stopping here. Read on for my Triumph Hurdle tips.

Our in-house Horse Racing tipster Owen McMahon has gone through the card for Friday's Races and made a selection for every race. Read who he's backing and why with our Cheltenham Day 4 Tips. 

Added to that, former jockey Katie Walsh runs through her Cheltenham Friday Tips for Betfred.

Triumph Hurdle Odds

Selma De Vary @ 7/2

Given just how well Mullins' stable has performed in this race in recent years, I cannot ignore this trend. Proactif, ridden by Mark Walsh, is the favourite but I like the look of stablemate SELMA DE VARY.

This four-year-old filly was a winner in Auteuil in November before joining the Closutton yard in January. She was second behind another Mullins runner, Narciso Has, in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in February over two miles, the same distance that will be travelled on Friday.

With Narciso Has ruled out of the Triumph Hurdle, an opportunity awaits Selma De Vary and jockey Paul Townend, who has won this contest three times.

Each-way - Minella Study @ 11/2

Arguably the biggest threat to Mullins' camp on Friday, MINELLA STUDY looks a force to be reckoned with for Adam Nicol. This four-year-old won on his hurdling debut at Tipperary in July for former trainer John Nallen, but caught the eye for his new yard with a Listed win at Wetherby in October.

The biggest achievement going in his favour is his C&D victory in the Triumph Trial back in December, which was by a comfortable six lengths. He's the best option for a British stable and I am excited to see how he fares here.

Minella Study is third in the betting and so I think he is worth covering each-way.

Each-way - Highland Crystal @ 9/1

Gordon Elliott has saddled two winners in the Triumph Hurdle but you have to go back to 2018 for his last success with Farclas. Mullins' record in recent years speaks for itself but Elliott has a promising entry himself in HIGHLAND CRYSTAL.

This four-year-old filly is the half-sister of Gold Cup contender Envoi Allen, a three-time Festival winner. Highland Crystal was a comfortable winner (14 lengths) on debut at Punchestown in November and followed up in a Listed fillies' event at Newbury later that month.

Her perfect record continued at Naas in February as she held off Saratoga, who was a Festival winner on Tuesday. Highland Crystal's form gives her strong claims here and if the ground is suitable, she should have a big part to play.

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