David Pipe on Adagio's chances in 'one of the best Triumphs in recent years'

In a normal year David Pipe would be quite bullish about the chances of his big JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Adagio, but this is not a normal year.

Of course that applies with racing behind closed doors, Covid-19 and the post-Brexit world we currently inhabit, but also on a more micro level to the Triumph itself and the biggest obstacle Pipe sees to Adagio winning a second Grade 1 this season is the opposition.

"Unfortunately it's probably one of the best Triumphs in recent years, but he's definitely got a chance," he said. "He's in good form and we've just got to get him there now. It looks like most of the fancied ones are going to stand their ground so it should be a fantastic race."

JCB Triumph Hurdle card and betting

That it should. The Alan King-trained Tritonic heads the market alongside Zanahiyr for Denise 'Sneezy' Foster, with Quilixios, now with Henry de Bromhead, the only other runner shorter in the betting than Adagio.

All three go to the festival unbeaten over hurdles while Adagio found another former Gordon Elliott, now Foster, horse Duffle Coat too good at Cheltenham in November, but has since won the December trial over course and distance and the rearranged Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle in January.

Pipe goes to next week's Cheltenham Festival with several live chances of adding to his already impressive haul of 15 winners and with field sizes down at the six-day stage over the first two days, believes a few horses slightly lower down the ratings may sneak in this year.

David Pipe: looking to add to his 15 Cheltenham Festival winners next weekCredit: Alex Davidson

He added: "You may get a few sneaking in off slightly lower ratings than in a normal year because of many factors, field sizes have been down the first two days but let's see what happens the second two days. You'll still get full fields in the handicaps, some of the novice races look like being very small fields but unfortunately I don't have many for those."

He does, however, have a strong team for the handicaps and pinpointed two of his better chances. He said: "Remastered has a chance in whatever he runs in, Brinkley has a chance in the Pertemps, both would probably prefer softer ground so we could do with a bit more rain falling on Cheltenham this week because next week is supposed to be dry."

The going at Cheltenham is good to soft with an unsettled forecast and further rain expected until Monday.

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