Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of a breathtaking first day of action at the Cheltenham Festival. It is a Grade One hurdle run over an approximate distance of 2 miles and 110 yards, with 8 jumps to be negotiated. As the title eludes to, the race is the most acclaimed of it’s kind in the National Hunt calendar as the cream of the crop battle for glory.
The race has been won by a long list of high class hurdlers who have their name firmly in the sport’s history. Several of them have had races named in their honour, including three-time winners Hatton’s Grace (1949, 1950, 1951) and Persian War (1968, 1969, 1970). A more recent hero of Cheltenham is the brilliant Istabraq who racked up a treble when taking the hounours in 1998, 1999 and 2000. He is considered by some as the greatest hurdler ever and may well have gone on to make it four in a row had it not been for the 2001 festival having to be aborted.
Flying To Champion Hurdle Victory
This year’s Champion Hurdle looks set to be a cracking renewal as last year’s superb winner Hurricane Fly attempts to fend off all-comers and make it successive wins. Willie Mullins’ precocious star has yet to make his seasonal re-appearance which has raised doubts in some corners about him appearing at Cheltenham. Such is his talent many people are of the opinion that if “The Fly’ turns up then he will win. One thing that is certain is he will not be at the Cheltenham Festival if he isn’t fully prepared. Recent vibes suggest he is on track and he is scheduled to to return at Leopardstown.
Behind Hurricane Fly there lies of a host of horses who have displayed their credentials and a few that have yet to show their hand. An impressive display from Grandouet in The International Hurdle has elevated him to the second-favourite. He has the form of the book and any further improvement would see him go well. The next two in the market are Spirit Son and Zarkandar. Like Hurricane Fly, neither have raced so far this season but both are expected to be present. Both were last seen when winning at Aintree in April and it must be argued their prominence in the market is in part due to the glowing references from their trainers. 2010 Champion Hurdle winner Binocular rounds off the top five in the betting after a battling success in The Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Further improvement will be essential if he is to regain his crown. The progressive Rock On Ruby is joined by Irish contenders Unaccompanied and Oscars Well as a trio of horses not without a chance at double-digit odds.
Hurdling Champion Of 2011
Hurricane Fly tasted victory in the 2011 Champion Hurdle but was made to work hard by Peddlers Cross up the hill. The form has proved to be above average with Peddlers Cross one of the leading novices now gone chasing. Not far behind at the festival in third was Oscar Whisky who has oozed class when stepping up in distance. He easily swept aside a decent horse last time out and looks likely to be upped further in distance at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival with the World Hurdle the planned target. Hurricane Fly would appear next at Punchestown where he claimed further Grade One glory with a devastating display, beating stable mate Thousand Stars and Binocular with ease.