Run over 2 miles on the old course and with 8 hurdles to be jumped, the Champion Hurdle is the show-piece race of day 1 and the most prestigious hurdle race in the world. The role of honour reads like a who's who of National Hunt racing with 5 triple-winners (Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq) and multiple dual winners such as Bula, Night Nurse, Monksfield, Sea Pigeon, Comedy Of Errors, Hardy Eustace, Hurricane Fly and most recently, Buveur D'Air. With the sad passing of Espoir D'Allen and Buveur D'Air injured, we are guaranteed a new name on the roll of honour in 2020. At the 6 day declaration stage there are 19 horses still entered and the current favourite for the race is Nicky Henderson's mare Epatante at a top-priced 7/2. One of 3 mares still entered in the race, she receives the 7lb mares allowance which was used to such devastating effect by Annie Power in 2016. Epatante was probably THE talking horse ahead of last year's festival but she bombed out badly in the mares novice race - something which Henderson put down to the change of yard and the additional vaccinations shortly before the festival. Since then she has put her best foot forward, routing the field in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury off a mark of 137 and then strolling to victory in the Christmas Hurdle with the minimum of fuss. She had solid yardsticks Silver Streak and Ballyandy (both likely to reoppose here) well beaten and the handicapper has her now on a mark of 159, the 7lbs mares allowance making that effectively 166. A solid favourite and probably the only horse in the field who has shown that star quality or wow factor this season. Next best in the betting at around 5/1 is another Seven Barrows inmate, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills. He has become a real enigma this season - in both races he has travelled like a dream and hurdled with tremendous fluency, only to throw victory away by patently failing to finish off his race. He has had a wind operation in an effort to help him finish off his races and that could bring him into the reckoning but on a strict line through Ballyandy he has a mountain to climb with Epatante. I'm deliberately skipping Honeysuckle here as she looks bound for the mares hurdle so next best at around 6/1 is Cilaos Emery, a horse who was supplemented for the race earlier this week. As a novice he finished a decent 5th in Labaik's Supreme (5 lengths behind Ballyandy who again crops up as a useful yardstick) before turning the tables at Punchestown where Labaik refused at the start and Melon finished second. After being well held in the Hatton's Grace and Ryanair hurdles as a second season hurdler, he had a year off before they sent him novice chasing this winter. His 3 wins included the grade 2 Hilly Way Chase but a first fence fall in the Dublin Chase (Chacun Pour Soi 1st, Min 2nd) prompted a switch back to hurdles 2 weeks later at Gowran Park and he duly won from decent yardsticks Darasso and Mengli Khan. Being the shrewd operator he is, Mullins no doubt sensed this is an open Champion Hurdle and has decided to chuck an arrow with Cilaos Emery. We are then into the double figure horses such as Darver Star (beaten just half a length by Honeysuckle giving the mare 7lbs), Supasundae (lots of Grade 1 form on soft ground and 2017 Coral Cup winner), Sharjah (surely it will be too soft for him?), Fusil Raffles (not seen since a horrible run in the Christmas Hurdle where he pulled up), my e/w ante post Coeur Sublime (not totally disgraced on unsuitably quick ground in the Matheson Hurdle and had his wind done since) and then the likes of Call Me Lord (has his ground but disappointing last time), Ballyandy (festival winner who has big place chances), Silver Streak (2nd to Epatante at Kempton) and Verdana Blue (surely won't run on soft ground). On paper this does not look the strongest of renewals but I think that if there is a potential superstar in the field, then it is EPATANTE. She looked the consummate professional at Cheltenham and the mares allowance can see her romp to glory next Tuesday.
Last week it looked like he was sick: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/b...pening-show-finds-recognition-and-an-audience but Henderson has said everything is in order now: https://www.racingtv.com/news/henderson-upbeat-on-champion-favourite-epatante This year I think the race is very weak and based on that I have a bet on Darver Star 25/1 e/w.
I see not so sleepy doesn’t even get a mention. Forget the betfair going into the race this is the form horse. Best flat form in the cesarawitch . Two good hurdle wins in testing ground will stay this trip. I was on ante post which I very rarely do.
Well if the Gold Cup had questions then the Champion Hurdle has so many more. Wrongs to rights in the hundreds. 1 - Where did all the good two milers go? They've either died, retired or got hurt. You could also add, they are likely running in the mares race instead. 2 - Given the muddling form, is the mares allowance key? Timeform have mares in first, second and third in their timeform ratings, and one of those doesn't like soft ground and another is probably swerving the race altogether. If it comes up soft then Epitante looks a tad ahead on Timeform ratings for the race (5lbs and a p). That mares allowance could be crucial. 3 - Cilaos Emery is he doing a route well taken? Returning from fences, a certain Champion Hurdler did it famously recently and it could be a repeat dose with CE. I don't think he is good enough, however its another really intriguing angle in the race. 4 - Pentland Hills & a cast of thousands - will he dog it again? I try not to be rude about horses, but my word, he failed to get up the hill on his first run and then Haydock was staggering. He has a massive negative to overcome with the hood being fitted, (first time hood in C1 races is a massive negative over hurdles) and then he has to show some resolution. If he wins the winners enclosure could be the fullest it has ever been. I would expect a Spartacus moment in the stands!! "I'm an owner" "I'm an owner" repeat 3.5k times 5 - Will Silver Streak run into a place? Yes, at least. It would be some story if he won this! 6 - Ballyandy, is he finally becoming the new The New One? No. 7 - Who wins? Epitante
In willie I trust! On his novice form too Cilaos Emery is the one for me and is a decent ew price too Altho I expect him to win his run LTO he would have learned a lot and he spect his jumping to be a lot slicker
Let's face it this race is wide open and you could make a case for so many.. I m not sure about Epatante although appreciate she could well be the good thing. I have started to warm to battle hardened Darver Star at a decent price. In an average Champion Hurdle I can see him running a big race and will back him if it's soft on day one. If it turns up good to soft I will be on Pentland Hills. Whilst he hasn't finished off his races this season he has travelled in to the race so well and I think class will tell on better ground and with a race run with a lot of pace helping him settle..
Trying to work this one out is like listening to a 30sec soundbite from our PM. You have to go over it several times and you still have no answer or idea.
I seem to recall Fusil Raffles was all the rage for last year's CH prior to a set back. Not considered for this year's. Is that a mistake? Why is Honeysuckle still being quoted when it was announced she would switch to the mares'? Have I missed something?
I just cannot get excited about those at the head of this market so I'm looking for value and a shock winner. Whilst I really like Pilgrim's 25/1 ew voucher on Darver Star he's been talked up at a few previews and his odds have contracted a fair amount. My speculative Elgin wager went west but it was NRNB so no harm done. Silver Streak is one of my favourite horses. He'll give his running but with the likely very easy ground he won't be seen to best effect. Another place probably. So with the ground as it is I'm drawn to Cornerstone Lad at 33/1. A grade 1 winner already, loves mud and what a story that would be. Each way obviously.
I read a stat somewhere that 8 or 9 of the last 10 champion hurdle winners had their last run within 45 days of running here..so you want a horse who hasn't been given extended time off so he/she is fresh.. Appreciate it is only a stat but an interesting one nevertheless.. That's not good reading for fans of Epatante, Coeur sublime, Silver Streak, Verdana Blue, Pentland Hills and Ballyandy. All their last runs were over the 45 days gap..
The problem with Fusil Raffles is his last run - pulled up behind equally fancied stablemate Epatante who was mightily impressive. I have heard nothing reported by Hendo as to why FR ran such a poor race, although he has of course waxed lyrical about Epatante. I'm holding antepost vouchers on FR but I'm at best, just hopeful and it's hard to see past the fav.
But on the flip side to that stat the 2 that won with a long break faugheen and rock on ruby both ran in the Christmas hurdle at kempton , it's a head scratcher this year
Yes you are probably right with it being open not much can be read in to that stat..with the going likely to be soft I would rather have a horse who is relatively fit from racing which is why I m siding with Darver Star. Based on the forecast can't see it being good to soft but if it was I would chance Pentland Hills.
Some good to soft in the going description now and they are saying not too much rain forecast between now and Tuesday
Some rain is due either later or Sunday but no rain so far today and we are about 9 miles from racecourse. Heavy rain is predicted for Monday though so that could maintain soft going..
Standing start would’ve raced prominently on the first start but for the full start got stuck out the back when they turned so that race for me form wise was a non event.
