Triumph favourite Solo bidding to become latest entire to triumph at Cheltenham

Most horses competing at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years have been geldings or mares, but there have been a few exceptions. For example, French import Solo, who recently leapfrogged his way to favouritism for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with an easy British debut success, is a full horse. Here are five other selected entires who made their presence felt at the festival down the years.

Alderbrook (1995 Champion Hurdle)

After landing a couple of Group races on the Flat in the autumn of 1994 for trainer Julie Cecil, his owner, Ernie Pick ,made the somewhat surprising decision to switch the horse to Kim Bailey for a campaign over hurdles.

He duly landed the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on his hurdling debut, which led to jockey Norman Williamson singing his praises afterwards.

Large Action and Jamie Osborne lead over the last from winner Alderbrook (number one)Credit: (Cranhamphoto.com)

It was then a case of next stop Cheltenham and the Champion Hurdle, where he proved too strong for Large Action and landed some decent bets in the process.

Monksfield (1978/1979 Champion Hurdle)

Trained by Des McDonagh, Monksfield became something of a standing dish for the hurdlers' crown as he bookended his two victories in the Champion Hurdle by finishing second behind the legendary Night Nurse in 1977 – and again behind Sea Pigeon in 1980.

Many still believe that the 70s were a golden era for Champion Hurdlers with the likes of Bula, Comedy Of Errors, Lanzarote, Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon all landing the prize. But Monksfield’s name thoroughly deserves to be in that roll-call as he was so brave and a model of consistency.

Baron Blakeney (1981 Triumph Hurdle)

His success in the Triumph Hurdle kick-started legendary Martin Pipe's phenomenal rise to the top, and he went on to win almost every other contest at the Cheltenham Festival, barring the big one, as the Gold Cup eluded him throughout a career that saw him crowned champion trainer on no less than 15 times.

Oddly for a Pipe-trained Cheltenham winner, Baron Blakeney was sent off a 66-1 chance but belied those odds when outgunning the 7-4 favourite Broadsword to snatch the prize.

Martin Pipe: legendary trainer who won the 1981 Triumph Hurdle with Baron BlakeneyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

It is certain that the horse would have started much shorter if he had been trained by Fred Winter or Fulke Walwyn, but that did not worry those who attended the party at Nicholashayne that evening.

Nomadic Way (1992 Stayers’ Hurdle)

In what proved to be a very rare foray into jumping territory for prolific Flat owner/breeder Robert Sangster, Nomadic Way was something of an enigmatic character but was expertly handled by Barry Hills leading up to the race and was given a finessed ride by Jamie Osborne on the day.

Nomadic Way (blue and green silks): won the 1992 Stayers' HurdleCredit: Gerry Cranham

In 20 starts over hurdles, he managed to finish runner-up on half of his outings and had actually filled second spot behind Morley Street in the previous year’s Champion Hurdle.

But it was the step up to three miles that brought out the best in him as he pulled clear of the subsequently disqualified Trapper John.

Sir Erec (2019 Triumph Hurdle)

He was backed as if defeat was out of the question into 11-10 favourite for the opening race on the final day 12 months ago, which was not a huge surprise given that he was a high-class horse on the Flat having been placed in Group company behind Stradivarius on his final start in that sphere at Ascot.

Sir Erec and Mark Walsh, pictured during the Triumph HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

A couple of winning starts over hurdles in Ireland, the latter in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown, for his new trainer Joseph O’Brien had many punters thinking he was just a steering job in the Triumph, but it was sadly not to be as he fatally shattered a foreleg jumping the fourth hurdle and was immediately pulled up.

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