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15:30 Cheltenham

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (Class 1)

  • 11 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 87y
  • Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £467,750 added
  • Winner: £266,384
  • 2nd: £99,958
  • 3rd: £50,049
  • 4th: £24,931
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 5.00s
  • Off Time: 15:30:47
  • 11 Ran
1
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
4/6
  • Form 111-111
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 169

tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, soon leant on rival, led before 2 out, hard pressed by runner-up after, driven flat, edged right towards finish, found extra close home

2
Silk - Black, black and pink check sleeves and cap
33/1
  • Form 132-422
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 154

held up in last trio, ridden after 2 out, soon beaten, well held and hanging left before last

3
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, red cap
100/1
  • Form 1F6-200
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 144

tracked leader, led after 1st, clear before 5th until approaching 3 out, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last

4
Silk - WHITE, large BLACK spots, BLACK cap

Elgin

24 DCD
12/1
  • Form 7-41161
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 161

held up in mid-division, effort 2 out, went 4th but not pace of leaders from home turn, stayed on same pace and lost 4th flat

5
Silk - Pink, Light Green spots, Pink sleeves and cap

Faugheen (IRE)

38 p BFCDCD
4/1
  • Form 211/1P2
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 167

led, headed after 1st, chased leader, mistake 4th, led after 3 out, soon leant on rival, headed before 2 out, weakened well before last

6
Silk - Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
  • Form U460-62
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 149

chased leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, hit next and lost further ground, kept on before last, went 4th flat but no chance with leaders

7
Silk - Dark Blue and White diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap
66/1
  • Form 0F-1162
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 156

held up in rear, niggled along before 3 out, well beaten after 2 out

8
Silk - Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, black star

Melon

38 D
7/1
  • Form 122-135
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 160

mid-division, closed on downhill run after 5th, not much room and checked after 3 out, challenged from next, upsides winner flat, edged right towards finish, held close home

9
Silk - Royal blue, orange diamond, hooped sleeves, orange cap, royal blue diamond

Mick Jazz (FR)

38 ht D
25/1
  • Form 31-3513
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 156

held up rear of mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd from next, unable to quicken last, soon edged left briefly, no impression but kept on

11
Silk - Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star

Wicklow Brave

126 b CD
14/1
  • Form 1033/71-
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 164

held up in last trio, headway on outside 3 out, chasing leaders after next, soon ridden and beaten, weakened before last

12
Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap
14/1
  • Form 1112-86
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 155

held up in last trio, took keen hold, last and ridden before 3 out, soon losing touch, well behind 2 out, pulled up before last

10
NR
12/1
  • Form 24222-1
  • Age 11
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 162

NonRunner

13
NR
66/1
  • Form 43-5130
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 145

NonRunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins are responsible for eight of the 13 runners in this but it’s difficult to look beyond defending champion BUVEUR D’AIR. He’s had a very smooth preparation, winning all three starts this season in a canter including two Grade 1 races. He’s been all-but unstoppable since suffering his only defeat over hurdles or fences on this day two years ago and it will take an exceptional performance to lower his colours today. Faugheen is his nearest market rival but the 2015 champion is now 10 and has not been at his best in his last two starts when odds-on, though is from two from two around here. He was pulled up behind Mick Jazz at Leopardstown in December, though did turn the tables in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month behind Supasundae. My Tent Or Yours has a fantastic Festival record and has finished second in this in each of the last three years. He gained a well-deserved victory in a Grade 2 here in December - beating Melon, Ch'tibello and John Constable – and will be hard to keep out of the frame again, though was beaten by Wicklow Brave at Punchestown last year. Elgin is much improved but may find a few of these too classy.

Formwatch

Buveur D'Air (FR) 1-16fav (11-6) Made all, quickened clear between last 2, 3 lengths ahead last, rider eased up run-in, shaken up and came quickly clear again final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb beating John Constable (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 3 ran.

Ch'tibello (FR) 6-4fav (11-2) Held up off the pace in rear, not fluent 3 out, soon closed on leader, went 2nd after 2 out, switched right flat, held by winner, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Elgin (11-6) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb.

Charli Parcs (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 14th of 24, dist behind Kalashnikov (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.

Elgin 5-1 (11-6) Held up off the pace, went 3rd after 3rd, closed on leader after 3 out, led before next, clear when jumped right and not fluent last, edged left flat, driven out, ran on, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb beating Ch'tibello (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.

Faugheen (IRE) 9-10fav (11-10) Led, pushed along straight, soon strongly pressed, headed and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Supasundae (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Feb.

Identity Thief (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon narrow lead, joined and disputed last, headed run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Forge Meadow (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb.

John Constable (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased winner throughout, unable to match pace of winner between last 2, 3 lengths down and hit last, tried to close as winning rider eased up briefly run-in, well held final 100 yards, 2nd of 3, 1 3/4l behind Buveur D'Air (11-6) at Sandown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.

Melon 7-2 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, pushed along from 2 out, dropped to 5th and no extra straight, one pace, 5th of 8, 11 3/4l behind Supasundae (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Feb.

Mick Jazz (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Soon chased leaders, still travelling smoothly from 2 out, pushed along straight, slight mistake last and one pace, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Supasundae (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Feb.

Wicklow Brave 70-1 (8-7) 10th of 23, 11 1/4l behind Rekindling (8-1) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Nov.

Yorkhill (IRE) 7-4 (11-10) Soon raced in moderate 4th, mistake 5th and soon lost place, ridden 3 out, moderate 5th and no impression 2 out, eased straight, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Min (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.

My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, led narrowly last, driven and stayed on gamely flat, in command towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating The New One (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.

Verdana Blue (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, weakened before the last, 10th of 24, 29 3/4l behind Kalashnikov (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.