2011 Champion Hurdle Form

Race OverviewMENORAH may well be the answer, having major form claims on his two wins here late last year and with the profile - still lightly raced and was progressing when last seen - to improve again. Hurricane Fly has assembled a formidable record in Ireland and may be next best, ahead of a couple of young up-and-comers with more probably still to give in Oscar Whisky and Mille Chief. [Mel Cullinan]

Odds provided by Paddypower

No.		Runner	Details	Rating
1		Bygones Of Brid (IRE) T J Murphy Karen McLintock	8 yrs / 164 lbs P46U02	138

CommentBygones Of Brid

Useful but completely outclassed in this.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
17/02/11	KEL 18SftCl2 Hd,10K	160 lbs	Graham Lee	2/9 11l, Peddlers Cross[10/1]11-10
22/01/11	ASC 19GSCl1 G2HdHc,23K	158 lbs	Graham Lee	10/14 54 3/4l, Tiger O'Toole[20/1]10-5
15/01/11	KEM 21GSCl2 HdHc,28K	154 lbs	A P McCoy	UR/19James De Vassy[16/1]11-2
28/12/10	STH 16St/SlwCl4 NHF,3K	154 lbs	Timmy Murphy	6/11 16l, Palomar[11/4]11-0
27/11/10	NBY 16GSCl1 G1Hd,51K	161 lbs	Graham Lee	4/5 13 1/4l, Peddlers Cross[66/1]11-7

Show Form

 

2

Clerk's Choice (IRE) T Molloy M Banks

5 yrs / 164 lbs -11144

155

CommentClerk's Choice

Well held by Menorah on December course form.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
11/12/10	CHL 17GSCl1 G2Hd,86K	158 lbs	Tom Molloy	4/9 8 1/4l, Menorah[20/1]11-4
20/11/10	HAY 16GS 4yCl2 Hd,25K	156 lbs	Tom Molloy	4/5 4 3/4l, Carlito Brigante[10/11F]11-6
16/10/10	CHL 16Gd 4yCl2 Hd,31K	152 lbs	Tom Molloy	1/8 21l, Royal Mix[14/1]10-12
16/05/10	STR 16GdCl4 NvHd,4K	159 lbs	Tom Molloy	1/8 1 1/4l, Roodolph[4/6F]11-5
05/05/10	HUN 16GSCl4 NvHd,3K	152 lbs	Tom Molloy	1/12 6l, Himrayn[1/3F]10-12

Show Form

 

3

Dunguib (IRE) B O'Connell P Fenton

8 yrs / 164 lbs 1136-1

165

CommentDunguib

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
19/02/11	GOW 16Sft/HyG2Hd,22K	166 lbs	B T O'Connell	1/3 3 1/2l, Luska Lad[8/11F]11-10
23/04/10	PUN 16GdG1Hd,90K	166 lbs	B T O'Connell	6/11 15 1/4l, Hurricane Fly[5/2F]11-12
16/03/10	CHL 16GSCl1 NvG1Hd,57K	161 lbs	B T O'Connell	3/18 2l, Menorah[4/5F]11-7
07/02/10	LEO 18SftNvG1Hd,46K	164 lbs	B T O'Connell	1/7 2 1/2l, Fionnegas[30/100F]11-10
02/12/09	FAI 16HyNvG1Hd,54K	164 lbs	B T O'Connell	1/6 7l, Some Present[30/100F]11-10

Show Form

 

4

Hurricane Fly (IRE) R Walsh W Mullins

7 yrs / 164 lbs 31-111

167

CommentHurricane Fly

9-11 over hurdles; all about class; major player.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
23/01/11	LEO 16SftG1Hd,62K	164 lbs	P Townend	1/5 3 1/2l, Solwhit[4/9F]11-10
29/12/10	LEO 16HyG1Hd,52K	164 lbs	P Townend	1/5 2 1/2l, Solwhit[8/11F]11-10
15/12/10	FAI 20SftG1Hd,49K	164 lbs	P Townend	1/11 1 1/2l, Solwhit[11/4]11-10
23/04/10	PUN 16GdG1Hd,90K	166 lbs	P Townend	1/11 Nk, Solwhit[3/1]11-12
15/11/09	PUN 16HyG1Hd,54K	164 lbs	P Townend	3/4 3 1/2l, Solwhit[8/13F]11-10

Show Form

 

5

Khyber Kim P Brennan N Twiston-Davies

9 yrs / 164 lbs 1121-4

164

CommentKhyber Kim

Player if back to form of last season's second in this.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
15/01/11	KEM 16GSCl1 G1Hd,43K	161 lbs	Paddy Brennan	4/6 13l, Binocular[5/2]11-7
10/04/10	Ain 20GdCl1 G1Hd,91K	161 lbs	Paddy Brennan	1/7 5l, Muirhead[7/2]11-7
16/03/10	CHL 16GSCl1 G1Hd,211K	164 lbs	Paddy Brennan	2/12 3 1/2l, Binocular[7/1]11-10
12/12/09	CHL 17SftCl1 G2Hd,86K	158 lbs	Paddy Brennan	1/7 2 1/4l, Celestial Halo[12/1]11-8 tongue str
15/11/09	CHL 16SftCl1 G3HdHc,57K	163 lbs	Paddy Brennan	1/15 2l, Harry Tricker[9/1]10-3 cheekpiece

Show Form

 

6

Menorah (IRE) R Johnson P Hobbs

6 yrs / 164 lbs 212-11

164

CommentMenorah

3 big wins in 3 runs here; still progressing; major claims.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
11/12/10	CHL 17GSCl1 G2Hd,86K	158 lbs	Richard Johnson	1/9 4 1/2l, Cue Card[7/4F]11-4
14/11/10	CHL 16GSCl1 G3HdHc,57K	166 lbs	Richard Johnson	1/17 Nk, Bothy[6/1]9-13
09/04/10	Ain 16GdCl1 NvG2Hd,34K	158 lbs	Richard Johnson	2/9 Nk, General Miller[7/4F]11-4
16/03/10	CHL 16GSCl1 NvG1Hd,57K	161 lbs	Richard Johnson	1/18 Hd, Get Me Out Of Here[12/1]11-7
20/02/10	ASC 16GSCl3 NvHd,5K	166 lbs	Richard Johnson	2/9 1 3/4l, Lush Life[1/2F]11-2

Show Form

 

7

Mille Chief (FR) R Thornton A King

5 yrs / 164 lbs 1-5211

158

CommentMille Chief

Major improver but track and age concerns.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
19/02/11	WCN 16GSCl1 G2Hd,40K	156 lbs	Robert Thornton	1/5 nse, Celestial Halo[15/8]11-6 blinkers,
08/01/11	SAN 16HyCl2 HdHc,9K	166 lbs	Robert Thornton	1/12 6l, Sophies Trophy[100/30]10-6 tongue str
19/11/10	ASC 16GSCl2 HdHc,8K	157 lbs	Wayne Hutchinson	2/13 4 1/2l, Aegean Dawn[6/1]9-9
23/10/10	Ain 16GSCl2 HdHc,9K	166 lbs	Wayne Hutchinson	5/16 17 1/2l, Nearby[100/30F]11-4
27/01/10	HUN 16SftCl4 NvHd,3K	154 lbs	Wayne Hutchinson	1/14 6l, Great Reason[2/9F]11-4

Show Form

 

8

Oscar Whisky (IRE) B J Geraghty N Henderson

6 yrs / 164 lbs 114-11

165

CommentOscar Whisky

Impressive here in January; unexposed; respected.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
05/02/11	Ffo 16GSCl2 Hd,28K	161 lbs	Barry Geraghty	1/5 8l, Black Jack Blues[2/7F]11-3 tongue str
01/01/11	CHL 20GSCl2 Hd,13K	158 lbs	Barry Geraghty	1/7 7l, Any Given Day[3/1]11-8
16/03/10	CHL 16GSCl1 NvG1Hd,57K	161 lbs	Barry Geraghty	4/18 4l, Menorah[11/1]11-7
19/02/10	SAN 16HyCl3 NvHd,5K	162 lbs	Barry Geraghty	1/11 2l, Cois Farraig[4/11F]11-2
16/12/09	NBY 16SftCl4 MdHd,3K	154 lbs	Barry Geraghty	1/14 7l, Spirit Of Adjisa[4/11F]11-0

Show Form

 

9

Overturn (IRE) G Lee D McCain

7 yrs / 164 lbs 1-2125

162

CommentOverturn

Smart front-runner but this looks too tough

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
19/02/11	WCN 16GSCl1 G2Hd,40K	160 lbs	Jason Maguire	5/5 47 1/4l, Mille Chief[4/1]11-2
15/01/11	KEM 16GSCl1 G1Hd,43K	161 lbs	Jason Maguire	2/6 3 3/4l, Binocular[7/1]11-7
18/08/10	YOR 14GdCl2Hc,131K	126 lbs	Eddie Ahern	20/20 68 1/2l, Dirar[8/1]9-1
29/07/10	GAL 16GFHdHc,133K	160 lbs	Graham Lee	1/19 5 1/2l, Bahrain Storm[6/1]11-8 blinkers
26/06/10	NCS 16GFCl2Hc,108K	119 lbs	Eddie Ahern	1/19 2 3/4l, Drunken Sailor[14/1]9-7 blinkers

Show Form

 

10

Peddlers Cross (IRE) J M Maguire D McCain

6 yrs / 164 lbs 111-11

162

CommentPeddlers Cross

8-8; may improve further but does need to.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
17/02/11	KEL 18SftCl2 Hd,10K	164 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/9 11l, Bygones Of Brid[1/6F]11-6
27/11/10	NBY 16GSCl1 G1Hd,51K	161 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/5 1 1/4l, Starluck[9/4]11-7
10/04/10	Ain 20GdCl1 NvG2Hd,34K	158 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/9 2l, Duke Of Lucca[5/4F]11-4
17/03/10	CHL 21GdCl1 NvG1Hd,57K	161 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/17 1 1/2l, Reve De Sivola[7/1]11-7
23/01/10	HAY 16SftCl1 NvG2Hd,18K	162 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/4 16l, Scriptwriter[11/8]11-4

Show Form

 

11

Thousand Stars (FR) P Townend W Mullins

7 yrs / 164 lbs 13-743

160

CommentThousand Stars

Hard to see him playing anything more than a minor role.

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
23/01/11	LEO 16SftG1Hd,62K	164 lbs	Ms K Walsh	3/5 5 1/2l, Hurricane Fly[14/1]11-10
29/12/10	LEO 16HyG1Hd,52K	164 lbs	Ms K Walsh	4/5 5l, Hurricane Fly[16/1]11-10
30/05/10	Aut 21VSftG2Hd,70K	146 lbs	Ms K Walsh	7/15Young Poli[8/1]10-6
23/04/10	PUN 16GdG1Hd,90K	166 lbs	Ms K Walsh	3/11 2 1/4l, Hurricane Fly[20/1]11-12
19/03/10	CHL 17GdCl1 G3HdHc,43K	145 lbs	Ms K Walsh	1/28 3l, Arcalis[20/1]10-7

Show Form

 

Menorah proved he is a real Champion Hurdle contender for the Festival after he got up well to win the Greatwood Hurdle at the open meeting back at the start of the season; carrying top weight the Supreme Novices winner from last season was hugely impressive under Richard Johnson. He followed that up with an even better performance to win the International Hurdle also at Cheltenham in December, he showed a great turn of foot to beat Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti in some style and was slahed ascross the board for the Champion Hurdle.

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is always a key early season Champion Hurdle trial and we saw a superb performance from Peddlers Cross to win the race in some style, the Donald McCain Jnr horse looked a real star and he proved he was a real Champion Hurdle contender. Peddlers Cross defeated Starluck in second and odds on favourite Binocular who was making his first appearance since winning the 2010 Champion Hurdle. It was an excellent run from Peddlers Cross and he has finished his Festival preparations with another win in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, and he would have gone to the Festival unbeaten but misses the race due to a banned substance is still in his system. Binocular looked rusty during that Fighting Fifth run but he bounced back with a brilliant win at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle, he chased down Overturn.

Willie Mullins has a top class Champion Hurdle contender in Hurricane Fly on his hands, he has long been touted for big things and he impressed hugely on seasonal debut winning the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle in December. The race at Fairyhouse also featured Solwhit but Hurricane Fly was simply too good as he returned to the track. Hurricane Fly confirmed his superiority over Solwhit with another convincing win in the Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas when he was hardly off the bridle, Hurricane Fly once again proved he was the best in Ireland when he won the Irish Champion Hurdle Leopardstown last time out and he goes to Cheltenham full of claims.

Nicky Henderson has another Champion Hurdle contender in his yard this season in Oscar Whisky who showed his class to win the Cheltenham & Three Counties Club Handicap on New Years Day at Prestbury Park. It was a highly impressive win over 2 miles 4 furlongs and the bookmakers immediately installed him in the betting for the Champion Hurdle. We have had confirmation from connections that Oscar Whisky will go to the Champion Hurdle and swere a potential Ladbrokes World Hurdle run, and that came after he hacked up at Ffos Las last time out to claim the Welsh Champion Hurdle over 2 miles on his last start before Cheltenham.

Alan King has confirmed that the exciting Mille Chief will take his chance in Champion Hurdle after he claimed an impressive win in the 32Red Handicap Hurdle at Sandown back in January. He won well off of top weight and and he seems to be improving making him one to watch, and he has followed that up with another win at Wincanton in the Kingwell Hurdle last time. He just held off Celestial Halo on ground he didnt like and Mille Chief will go to the Festival with a nice each-way price. The same can be said of the exciting Dunguib who has one on his first start of the sesason at Gowran Park in the Red Mills Hurdle. The 2009 Champion Bumper winner will now go straight to Cheltenham and we know he  is hugely talented and could run a big race.

Cheltenham Festival - Betting Tips