Owen has eyes on another Triumph Trial with Charles Darnay and Magnetude

James Owen is set to launch a two-pronged attack at Cheltenham as he looks to bag the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle for the third time in four years.

The dual-purpose trainer has previously sent out stable stars Burdett Road (2023) and East India Dock (2024) to win this Grade Two event and although Kate O’Riley had to settle for third 12 months ago, he has a crack hand to play once again at Prestbury Park.

The bookmakers have his Wetherby Listed winner Charles Darnay as the one to beat after an impressive hurdling introduction and his handler is hopeful he can build on that outing in West Yorkshire with Harry Cobden booked for steering duties.

Owen said: “He was a nice, progressive Flat horse and I thought he was good at Wetherby to win the Listed race on hurdling debut.

“We’ve won the Wensleydale before (with Liam Swagger in 2024) and it’s a nice early-season pot. With the ground as it has been, they had done such a good job with the ground up there it forced our hand to take him there.

“He jumped green early on but learned plenty on his way round and fingers crossed he can come forward from that.

“This looks the nice next step for him and I think he can run another big race.”

Charles Darnay is joined in the field by fellow Wetherby winner Magnetude, who was in fact rated higher than his stablemate on the Flat, a winner at Chester’s May Festival deemed good enough for an outing in both the Queen’s Vase and Gordon Stakes during the summer.

Owen was again satisfied with his first appearance over obstacles and feels there could be little to split his pair of hurdling converts.

“He was probably the better of the two on the Flat and he toughed it out quite well at Wetherby,” continued the trainer.

“I think he has improved with his jumping since then and I think he will put in a bit more of a polished display this time.

“The form of that race has worked out quite well with the runner-up winning next time so he’s entitled to take his chance and I wouldn’t think there is a great deal between my two.”

The biggest danger to the Owen duo is set to come from Ireland with Joseph O’Brien’s Cork winner Atomic City and Patrick Magee’s easy Down Royal scorer Admiral Will Brown others already off the mark over hurdles.

Olly Murphy and Jamie Snowden both have their string in good order and will saddle Market Rasen runner-up Don Dandy and Mix Match respectively, the latter a €155,000 recruit from France.

Faye Bramley cannot be ignored in this sphere but her Confused has a bit to find with Charles Darnay from when they met at Wetherby, with Electrical, a recent winner on the level at Nottingham for Brian Toomey and Max Young’s Tiny Riot completing the field.