15:30 Cheltenham

Tuesday 10 March 2020

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 87y  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   17 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:32  |   Winning time: 4m 7.03s
1st
Horse silk
17
2/1f
T: N J HendersonJ: B J Geraghty
Held up in touch and travelled well, not fluent 3 out, eased out right before leading last, edged right flat, stayed on well
2nd
Horse silk
3
14
711-10
16/1
T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins
Held up in rear, headway going well after 2 out, switched right before last, went 2nd flat, edged left, stayed on, no impression towards finish op 14/1
3rd
Horse silk
3 ¾
7
17/2
T: G P CromwellJ: Jonathan Moore
Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led between last 2, headed last, lost 2nd flat, stayed on same pace op 10/1
4th
Horse silk
2 ¾
3
7/1
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Held up towards rear, raced keenly, mistake 5th, headway 3 out, edged left final 75 yards, stayed on same pace, unable to challenge tchd 13/2
5th
Horse silk
2
13
25/1
T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore
Led after 1st, clear after 5th until before 3 out where not fluent, headed between last 2, soon hanging right, no extra towards finish
6th
Horse silk
½
15
20/1
T: Evan WilliamsJ: Adam Wedge
Mid-division, mistake 3rd, outpaced after 2 out, stayed under pressure flat, never on terms op 25/1
7th
Horse silk
2 ½
16
1011-10
9/1
T: Mrs J HarringtonJ: R M Power
Mid-division, niggled along briefly before 3rd, headway after 5th, driven from 2 out, weakened flat op 10/1
8th
Horse silk
1 ½
1
911-10
20/1
T: N A Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Led until after 1st, chased leaders on inside after, driven after 2 out, weakened last
9th
Horse silk
3
12
9/1
T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville
Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, shaken up after 2 out, went 9th before last, no chance op 8/1
10th
Horse silk
1
6
711-10
40/1
T: J P O'BrienJ: M P Walsh
Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, never in contention
11th
Horse silk
6
8
20/1
T: N J HendersonJ: D A Jacob
Held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened op 33/1
12th
Horse silk
2 ¾
9
611-10
100/1
T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: Aidan Coleman
Mid-division on outside, closed after 2nd, mistake 5th, weakened 2 out
13th
Horse silk
1 ¼
2
10/1
T: N J HendersonJ: James Bowen
Held up on inside, not fluent 4th, pushed along and well beaten after 3 out op 14/1
14th
Horse silk
1 ¼
10
100/1
T: Dr R D P NewlandJ: Charlie Hammond
Slowly away, held up in rear, some headway on approaching 4th, closed to chase leaders 2 out, soon driven and weakened op 125/1
15th
Horse silk
24
4
12/1
T: G ElliottJ: D N Russell
In touch in mid-division, mistake 5th, well beaten from 3 out op 16/1

Also Ran

PU
Horse silk
5
33/1
T: Micky HammondJ: Henry Brooke
Tracked leader until after 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out op 25/1
PU
Horse silk
11
33/1
T: H MorrisonJ: J J Burke
Slowly away, took keen hold and soon recovered to chase leaders, mistake 3rd, lost place after 5th, soon behind, pulled up before last tchd 28/1

Watch Race Replay

Unlimited race replays of all UK & Irish racing

Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee

Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.70Pl:£1.90, £5.30, £2.70EX:£47.40Trifecta:£433.90Tricast:£245.93SF:£34.05Swingers:£10.20, £4.30, £26.90

Forecasts

Epatante (2/1), Cilaos Emery (7/1), Darver Star (17/2), Supasundae (9/1), Pentland Hills (9/1), Call Me Lord (10/1), Coeur Sublime (12/1), Sharjah (16/1), Silver Streak (20/1), Ballyandy (20/1), Fusil Raffles (20/1), Petit Mouchoir (25/1), Cornerstone Lad (33/1), Not So Sleepy (33/1), Darasso (40/1), Gumball (100/1), Le Patriote (100/1)

Verdict

With Buveur D'Air (2017 & 2018) injured and Espoir D'Allen (2019) no longer with us, there will soon be a new name etched into Champion Hurdle folklore. The mare Epatante surged to the fore of the market after a hugely impressive win in the Christmas Hurdle (Silver Streak second, Ballyandy third) and is evidently the form pick of the Henderson quartet, although it should be noted that Pentland Hills returns from wind surgery. However, the Irish challenge also appears strong with the stamina-laden Darver Star of interest and the Willie Mullins-trained CILAOS EMERY still unexposed over hurdles despite a Grade 1 novice win at Punchestown (Apr 2017).
  1. Cilaos Emery
  2. Epatante
  3. Darver Star

Previous Winners

2019
Espoir D'allen
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 5
16/1

Prize Money

1st: £264,610.002nd: £99,693.003rd: £49,894.004th: £24,923.005th: £12,509.006th: £6,254.007th: £3,104.008th: £1,599.00

MOST READ RACING

Sporting Life
Race Replays
Unlimited race replays of all UK & Irish racing.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Click HERE for more information

RACING TIPS

Next Off

We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo