Adam Nicol’s Minella Study maintained his flawless record with a commanding victory in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham. Having already impressed with wins at Musselburgh and Wetherby, this latest display elevated the promising juvenile to a new level of recognition.
Throughout the race, Minella Study matched strides with Harry Derham’s consistent One Horse Town as they approached the final stretch. However, it was Grand National winner Ryan Mania aboard Minella Study who made a decisive move approaching the last hurdle. With a powerful leap, the 5-1 contender surged ahead, ultimately pulling six and a half lengths clear of runner-up Winston Junior. The odds-on favorite, One Horse Town, finished third.
Following the win, Coral offered Minella Study a 16-1 starting price for the upcoming Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with trainer Nicol optimistic about contesting the prestigious event. Nicol commented on the horse’s progress: “He works exceptionally well in training. Earlier this week, I saw his impressive speed firsthand. The remarkable thing is that he still doesn’t realize he’s a racehorse. He’s developing strength, speed, and stamina steadily.”
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Looking ahead, Nicol revealed plans to allow the horse to recover before potentially entering the Musselburgh Trial on January 31, using it as further preparation before heading to Cheltenham.
Winning jockey Ryan Mania praised Minella Study’s performance, saying: “This horse showed more today than ever before. He felt like a different athlete—so calm and collected throughout. I was advised not to push early, but I just couldn’t hold back! We came here to gauge his potential, and honestly, I believe we’ve only just begun to understand how talented he is.”