The Champion Hurdle is the showcase champion race on the opening day of the Festival, and there is one word that seems synonymous with the runners of the race - winners. Lining up are the 2010 Supreme Novices’ winner Menorah and the 2010 Neptune Novices’ winner and the unbeaten Peddlers Cross. Add to the mix Irish Champion Hurdlerr, Hurricane Fly, the Welsh Champion Oscar Whiskey and the Kingwell Hurdle winner Mille Chief and we have some race in prospect..
The reigning champion is the Nicky Henderson trained BINOCULAR, who has been withdrawn in controversial circumstances. The race is poorer for his absence but the up-and-coming brigade are very strong so an exciting, top class race still looks guaranteed.
The Irish have a decent record in the race in recent years, mainly due to the wonder horse Istabraq, who sensationally won three consecutive Champion Hurdles from 1998-2000. Those wins were very popular with the Irish contingent and they could have another potential superstar again in the Willie Mullins trained HURRICANE FLY.
Hurricane Fly won the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in impressive fashion, cruising up on the bridle before taking the lead in the straight. The race has usually been a good indicator to Cheltenham with horses such as Sizing Europe, Hardy Eustace and the previously mentioned Istabraq all winning en route to Prestbury Park. The Mullins trained horse has won 8 of his last 9 starts, including beating Solwhit by a neck in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April last year.
Since that victory he has beaten Solwhit three more times but not much else and the big question mark abut him surrounds the strength of the form. He has also never run around Cheltenham, let alone won, which may be another negative.
Another key player is the winner of last year’s Supreme Novices Hurdle, Phillip Hobbs’ stable star MENORAH. He has built on his impressive Supreme Novice victory, winning the Greatwood Hurdle carrying top weight then following up by blitzing this year’s Supreme Novice favourite Cue Card and highly touted Paul Nicholls juvenile Silviano Conti by 4 lengths in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham
He has a perfect 3 wins from 3 runs record at Prestbury Park. As impressive as his victories have been on the eye, the form hasn’t really worked out that well in truth. From the International Hurdle, the 17 horses have had 23 runs, with no wins, and only four places. Recent Supreme Novices’ winners have a history of disappointing when returning to the festival the following year, for example Go Native in last years Champion Hurdle, and Captain Cee Bee in the same years Arkle, and, for me, he would be one to avoid.
PEDDLERS CROSS is an interesting runner from the north. The Donald McCain trained 6 year old, has gone from strength to strength, building on his Neptune Novice win at last year’s Festival by going on to win at the Aintree Festival and looking very impressive when beating Binocular in the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury. He remains unbeaten.
The Neptune form looks strong, the beaten Finians Rainbow being touted for this years Arkle, and the third Right of Passage going on to win the Ascot Gold Cup. Connections have been very bullish about the gelding’s chances but there is a chance he may be outclassed and may be found wanting for toe.
It usually pays to follow previous winners from the Cheltenham festival year to year, which narrows the field down to the two main contenders.
Hurricane Fly is unproven on the course, there are doubts surrounding the depth of Menorah’s form, and Peddlers Cross is still relatively inexperienced. Menorah should be able to plug on for a place. Khyber Kim can build on his reappearance behind Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle to take yet another place following last year’s great effort in second.
I have a strong feeling that if the current champion Binocular was running, he would win. Conditions were suitable and he is clearly a spring horse who just loves Cheltenham. That said, the show must go on without him and the answer may lie with the Irish raider HURRICANE FLY. He has won 9 Grade 1 races in Ireland, and this will be his first visit to England, to take on the challengers this side of the pond.
Although there are negatives surrounding him never having run at Cheltenham, he has the cruising speed and class that winners of this race usually possess and, with Ruby Walsh on board, he also has the perfect jockey for Cheltenham.
Predictions
1. Hurricane Fly
2. Khyber Kim
3. Menorah
No comments:
Post a Comment