TRIUMPH FIELD CUTS UP

JUST nine horses have been declared for tomorrow’s JCB Triumph Hurdle — a situation Timeform yesterday described as “not ideal”.

And the form experts believe the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, first run in 2005, is to blame.

“In some respects the Fred Winter has been a good thing — 30 years ago the Triumph was a rough race, with horses that had no right being there running,” said Timeform’s Phil Turner.

“But it’s not ideal now. There is a danger it’s gone too far.

“There are runners in the Fred Winter that one would like to see in the Triumph.”