JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE (GRADE 1)

A MEETING that effectively turned into a shootout between Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins was perhaps best represented by this juvenile championship where the former’s Farclas bested the Mullins-trained Mr Adjudicator.

The smallest Triumph Hurdle field since 1965 contained one of the strongest favourites of the week in the hitherto unbeaten Nicky Henderson filly Apple’s Shakira but she could manage only fourth.

The Gigginstown-owned Farclas came into the race as a maiden but an excellent second to Mr Adjudicator in a Leopardstown Grade 1 last time suggested that a big run could be in the offing.

Indeed those two juveniles posted a faster time than Samcro over the same course and distance at the Dublin Racing Festival which was a telling pointer to their chances and they duly emerged as the luminaries of this season’s four-year-olds. A small field raised the possibility of a steady pace and so it proved to be.

Several of the runners raced keenly from an early stage and one of those was the favourite but the pace also meant that plenty still held chances on the long run to the last flight. A brave Stormy Ireland, who was among four Mullins representatives, led the field into the straight and Apple’s Shakira loomed up momentarily to give her many supporters some hope.

The market leader was soon done with though and nearing the last Farclas came through along with his old foe Mr Adjudicator. The pair jumped the last together but Jack Kennedy’s fourth winner of the week was just too strong and went on to score by a length and three-quarters. The Mullins-trained Sayo took third ahead of the favourite, while, happily, Stormy Ireland got up after her last flight fall.

“I know I keep saying it, but it’s just been an unbelievable week and it’s down to all the staff, the owners and the horses,” exclaimed Elliott. “The form of the first two stood up and I felt coming here that there was just a good jump between our horse and Mr Adjudicator.

“He came here a maiden but in both his runs he’d been placed in good graded races and he’s improved away the whole time.

“We’ll look to Punchestown with him and I’d imagine he’ll stay over hurdles next season. He’s a horse who will get further.”

Nicky Henderson reported that Apple’s Shakira raced too keenly and that she could wear a hood when she turns out at Aintree.