Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy - Cheltenham Festival 2011
The Stanjames.com Champion Hurdle is the highlight on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and is the ultimate test of a hurdler's ability to jump accurately and fluently at speed.
The race, traditionally ran at a breakneck gallop, has been won by some exceptional horses in the past, including the mighty Istabraq, who won the race three times in succession from 1998.
This year's renewal has been touted as the best in recent times and it is hard to argue with that from a form perspective. Last year's winner Binocular will have to be at his very best if he is to overcome the likes of Hurricane Fly, Menorah and Peddlers Cross.
Read on to find out more about each contender -
Binocular
An impressive winner of this race last season, Binocular is fancied to follow up for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Tony McCoy. Twelve months ago, he approached the race on the back of two lacklustre early-season defeats and a confidence-boosting win in a weak race at Sandown a month before the big day. The lack of faith shown by his followers was evident in his 9-1 starting price but he proved his doubters wrong with an awesome display of jumping, going on to win by three lengths from Khyber Kim. This year, however, Binocular approaches the race with two wins from three races and confidence is high in the Henderson camp that the seven-year-old can win the race for a second time. He looked back to his very best with an easy win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in January and followed up in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown last month, the race he won before triumphing in this last year. He has a high cruising speed, a slick jumping technique and a strong will to win - there aren't many chinks in his armour. At around 3-1, he will be strongly fancied to get Cheltenham week off to a flyer for many of his fans.
Hurricane Fly
One of the most intriguing runners in the field, Hurricane Fly will be a big fancy to enhance the good recent record of Irish-trained horses in the race (four from past nine runnings). Trained by Willie Mullins and likely to be the mount of the Festival's leading rider in Ruby Walsh, Hurricane Fly has an outstanding chance based on his performances in Ireland this season. He has dispatched of his rivals, including six-time Grade 1 winner Solwhit, with consummate ease on each occasion and it will be disappointing if he cannot match it with the likes of Binocular. Hurricane Fly has twice missed this race through injury and has never ran at Cheltenham, but he has too much going for him to dismiss him from proceedings. Like Binocular, he hurdles fluently, travels beautifully and is hardy in a battle. He is a fascinating contender.
Menorah
A gutsy winner of last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Menorah has gone from strength to strength this year and warrants the utmost respect. He has won two races this season, both over course and distance, and looks the type to keep on improving over hurdles. He showed a superb attitude to hold off Get Me Out Of Here at the Festival last year but tasted defeat at Aintree shortly after. Since that loss, he has done nothing but improve, as seen with his hard-fought win in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham under the burden of top-weight. He followed up that success with an impressive win in the International Hurdle in December, again at Cheltenham. The manner of his victory was sublime. He travelled and hurdled well before showing Cue Card a clean pair of heels shortly after the last flight. Trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson won the Champion Hurdle with a similar type in Rooster Booster in 2003 and Menorah, currently around 5-1, will go close to emulating him.
Peddlers Cross
Still unbeaten after seven races under rules, Peddlers Cross is a lively contender for trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire. Successful in the Neptune Investments Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival last year, he keeps on improving with every challenge thrown at him and already has the scalp of Binocular following his win in the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury in November. He has had an interrupted preparation due to bad weather over the winter but he showed his well-being with a comprehensive win at Kelso last month. Still only a six-year-old it is impossible to rule out further progression in every aspect of his make-up. He, like his rivals, jumps efficiently and is a strong finisher as well as having an excellent desire to win. At around 6-1, he has sound claims.
Oscar Whisky
A young and improving sort who has only suffered one defeat during his seven-race career, Oscar Whisky has been impressive on his last starts and has a good each-way chance at around 12-1. Since finishing four lengths behind Menorah in the Supreme last season, he has won both his starts this season, including the Welsh Champion Hurdle last time out at Ffos Las. Whether he can topple the big guns at the head of the market is another matter but he looks an interesting outsider for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Mille Chief
The apple of trainer Alan King's eye, Mille Chief propelled himself into the Champion Hurdle reckoning with an easy win on heavy ground at Sandown in January before following up in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month. He was ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle last season before being ruled out of the race through injury and has always been well regarded at home. After his win in January, King described him as a better horse than his 2008 Champion Hurdle winner Katchit. He can be backed at 12-1.
The race, traditionally ran at a breakneck gallop, has been won by some exceptional horses in the past, including the mighty Istabraq, who won the race three times in succession from 1998.
This year's renewal has been touted as the best in recent times and it is hard to argue with that from a form perspective. Last year's winner Binocular will have to be at his very best if he is to overcome the likes of Hurricane Fly, Menorah and Peddlers Cross.
Read on to find out more about each contender -
Binocular
An impressive winner of this race last season, Binocular is fancied to follow up for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Tony McCoy. Twelve months ago, he approached the race on the back of two lacklustre early-season defeats and a confidence-boosting win in a weak race at Sandown a month before the big day. The lack of faith shown by his followers was evident in his 9-1 starting price but he proved his doubters wrong with an awesome display of jumping, going on to win by three lengths from Khyber Kim. This year, however, Binocular approaches the race with two wins from three races and confidence is high in the Henderson camp that the seven-year-old can win the race for a second time. He looked back to his very best with an easy win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in January and followed up in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown last month, the race he won before triumphing in this last year. He has a high cruising speed, a slick jumping technique and a strong will to win - there aren't many chinks in his armour. At around 3-1, he will be strongly fancied to get Cheltenham week off to a flyer for many of his fans.
Hurricane Fly
One of the most intriguing runners in the field, Hurricane Fly will be a big fancy to enhance the good recent record of Irish-trained horses in the race (four from past nine runnings). Trained by Willie Mullins and likely to be the mount of the Festival's leading rider in Ruby Walsh, Hurricane Fly has an outstanding chance based on his performances in Ireland this season. He has dispatched of his rivals, including six-time Grade 1 winner Solwhit, with consummate ease on each occasion and it will be disappointing if he cannot match it with the likes of Binocular. Hurricane Fly has twice missed this race through injury and has never ran at Cheltenham, but he has too much going for him to dismiss him from proceedings. Like Binocular, he hurdles fluently, travels beautifully and is hardy in a battle. He is a fascinating contender.
Menorah
A gutsy winner of last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Menorah has gone from strength to strength this year and warrants the utmost respect. He has won two races this season, both over course and distance, and looks the type to keep on improving over hurdles. He showed a superb attitude to hold off Get Me Out Of Here at the Festival last year but tasted defeat at Aintree shortly after. Since that loss, he has done nothing but improve, as seen with his hard-fought win in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham under the burden of top-weight. He followed up that success with an impressive win in the International Hurdle in December, again at Cheltenham. The manner of his victory was sublime. He travelled and hurdled well before showing Cue Card a clean pair of heels shortly after the last flight. Trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson won the Champion Hurdle with a similar type in Rooster Booster in 2003 and Menorah, currently around 5-1, will go close to emulating him.
Peddlers Cross
Still unbeaten after seven races under rules, Peddlers Cross is a lively contender for trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire. Successful in the Neptune Investments Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival last year, he keeps on improving with every challenge thrown at him and already has the scalp of Binocular following his win in the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury in November. He has had an interrupted preparation due to bad weather over the winter but he showed his well-being with a comprehensive win at Kelso last month. Still only a six-year-old it is impossible to rule out further progression in every aspect of his make-up. He, like his rivals, jumps efficiently and is a strong finisher as well as having an excellent desire to win. At around 6-1, he has sound claims.
Oscar Whisky
A young and improving sort who has only suffered one defeat during his seven-race career, Oscar Whisky has been impressive on his last starts and has a good each-way chance at around 12-1. Since finishing four lengths behind Menorah in the Supreme last season, he has won both his starts this season, including the Welsh Champion Hurdle last time out at Ffos Las. Whether he can topple the big guns at the head of the market is another matter but he looks an interesting outsider for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Mille Chief
The apple of trainer Alan King's eye, Mille Chief propelled himself into the Champion Hurdle reckoning with an easy win on heavy ground at Sandown in January before following up in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month. He was ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle last season before being ruled out of the race through injury and has always been well regarded at home. After his win in January, King described him as a better horse than his 2008 Champion Hurdle winner Katchit. He can be backed at 12-1.
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