French Recruits in the Triumph Hurdle

Another year and another humbling experience in the Triumph Hurdle. The French recruits did dominate the race and in the main, I was right at the start of the season when I said that the Autumn form looked stronger. However, that largely comes with the caveat that Narciso Has didn’t make it to the race and also the fact that the largely forgotten Apolon de Charnie came out on top. I think I would rank the 2026 Triumph Hurdle as a better race than last season’s, but some way short of the level achieved by Lossiemouth and Vauban a couple of years ago. Here are my notes and thoughts on all of the French recruits in the 2026 Triumph Hurdle;

Apolon de Charnie

They changed the rules, but still got another winner of the Triumph Hurdle who was making their debut for Willie Mullins. The signs were there if you looked hard enough. Apolon de Charnie had been second to Proactif in the Prix Finot back in September at Auteuil, but it would have taken a very brave swing to think that he could translate that form into a Grade 1 success. He came from mid-division to chase home Proactif at Auteuil and it’s possible that the winner received a better ride than he did on the day, but I really had him down as a horse running for the experience who would then go into Novice company next year. Patrick Mullins had him in the front rank over the first, but he was slightly keen and he managed to rein him back by the time they reached the 2nd. Racing in the middle of the pack, he settled perfectly and was able to keep the leaders in range before being asked to close by tracking Maestro Conti around the final turn. He was the last horse to come off the bridle and despite meeting the last a little wrong and landing steeply, he has responded readily and was clearly the best horse on the day. I have no idea whether he can do this again because this was just his 3rd start. My notes in September (see related articles) suggested he needed more time and the way this race panned out may well have suited better, even if the market couldn’t see it. It would be a mistake to write him off as a fluke just because of his SP, but how this run translates to open company against older horses is impossible to predict at this stage. For every Lossiemouth in the Triumph, there is a Pentland Hills and a Poniros after all.

It is also worth noting that Patrick Mullins received a 2 day ban “for careless riding for allowing his mount to move right-handed under a left-hand drive for a number of strides without correction, taking MINELLA STUDY off its intended line”.

Maestro Conti

I don’t think he did a great deal wrong to finish 2nd and he has probably confirmed his place as one of the best Juvenile hurdler trained in the UK. He raced further back in the early stages and traveled nicely into the home straight. He did inconvenience Selma de Vary when aiming for the stands rail, but that was clearly Harry Skelton’s plan after using that so effectively to win in January. He got there, but simply lacked the speed to repel the winner in the final furlong. A race run with a finishing speed of 102.5% gave him every chance, but I would suspect that his future will involve going up in trip next season and he may be slightly better on softer ground too. Either way, he has had a good season and is a very exciting prospect to go over fences down the line.

The post-race Stewards’ Enquiry read “An enquiry was held to consider interference approaching the final fence involving MAESTRO CONTI (FR), placed second, ridden by Harry Skelton, and SELMA DE VARY (FR), placed fourth, ridden by P Townend. Skelton was suspended for 3 days for careless riding for allowing his mount to drift right-handed when insufficiently clear resulting SELMA DE VARY (FR) being tightened against the rail with Townend having to switch his mount”.

Selma de Vary

She needs to be ridden towards the rear of the field and having been slightly keen in the early stages despite a patient position from Paul Townend, she did well to travel into the latter stages. Much like Harry Skelton, Paul Townend clearly had a plan to get across to the stands rail to give her a clear path in the final couple of furlongs. I’d be of the opinion that Harry Skelton closed the gap when he perhaps shouldn’t have and that did force Selma de Vary to switch inside, but she had every chance to run on after the last and didn’t, so I don’t think she can be called an unlucky loser either. She is a nice horse and she has finished 2nd and 4th in the best Juvenile races of the season, but this was also her 7th start, so she is more experienced than some and I would think she is more likely to run in the County Hurdle rather than the Champion Hurdle next year.

Forty Fifty

He had been the talking horse before the Prix Pride of Kildare (won by Macho Man) and on his first start since, I thought he ran a fine race to finish 6th. He was slightly outpaced coming down the hill, but he kept on well after jumping the last, responding well to Johnny Burke and he didn’t lose any further ground on the run-in as he seemed to relish the climb up the hill. He is still a novice and if he doesn’t win a race between now and the end of the season, he could make up into a decent horse to watch in next season's novice hurdles.

Proactif

In the absence of Narciso Has, he was the favourite for this race in the build-up, but other than having the same owners they are very different horses. He couldn’t get to the front and having raced prominently in both starts, he didn’t seem to enjoy being amongst runners. He came off the bridle at the top of the hill and the winner readily traveled past him as they approached the 2nd last. He was one paced from that point and was well beaten in the end. He is still a young horse and this was just his 3rd start, but he will need to race better if he can’t lead in the future and I can’t really make an obvious excuse for him.

“The performance of PROACTIF (FR) was considered. It was noted that the representative of Willie Mullins could offer no explanation for the gelding's performance; the Veterinary Officer examined PROACTIF (FR) post-race and had nothing to report”.

North Shore

Did receive some market support, but he came up short and I must admit that I saw him as more of a Fred Winter type at Christmas. He briefly threatened when jumping the 2nd last on terms but couldn’t go with the principles when the pace lifted. He is a nice horse with some solid form on the Flat in France and is a horse that could be capable of making his mark in top level handicaps in both codes, even if he is perhaps slightly short of “top class” at this point.

Mon Creuset

Contrary to what some sites report, he did run in France, winning an AQPS race for Fabrice Foucher at Nantes in October. I wrote at the time that I felt he was running “in the shop window” and he has run some decent races for Gigginstown since making the switch. Harry Cobden gave him every chance on the front end and he was still in there pitching as they turned in. He lacked the speed for the sprint finish, but he will also surely stay further and I wouldn’t give up on him for the longer term. His dam is a half-sister to Achille (Venetia Williams) and he should make up into a decent chasing type down the line.

Noemie de la Vis

Turned over at 4/7 for her debut for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse in January. She represents the Spring crop, having made a promising debut when 2nd to Just Happy at Compiegne back in April. She has had an interrupted Juvenile season, but she remains a Novice and may do better in time. She ran as her odds of 100/1 might have suggested, getting as far as the 2nd last before dropping away. She is a fair prospect, but there are plenty of better recruits in the yard and this step into Grade 1 company was a step too far for her.

Kai Lung

Had plenty of experience on the Flat in France for Francois Rohaut and created a nice impression when winning at Naas in January. The ground should have suited, but he was far too keen for Sean O’Keeffe and was eased down. He should be capable of winning more races and might be a horse for the Summer, but this level looked to be well beyond him at this stage.

Macho Man

A disappointing pick for me. He was simply too keen in front for Brian Hayes, who never looked comfortable and the mistake that ultimately ended his race could have been predicted by the enthusiastic way that he took the first few flights of hurdles. Brian Hayes did the right thing to look after him and we can just put a line through this run, but he will need to settle a lot better in the future.