Nicholls Upbeat About Champion Hurdle Prospects

Celestial Halo will put trainer Paul Nicholls in seventh heaven if he manages to win the Smurfit Champion Hurdle this year. Nicholls certainly thinks his Triumph Hurdle winner from last year is in with a big chance to land the crown for the first time for the Champion trainer.

Nicholls believes the race is between the top three in the market, Binocular being the obvious one to beat. However the Ditcheat trainer reminded the racing world that Cheltenham is a different course and that Binocular got beat there last year while Celetial Halo won the Triumph.

Osana, trained by David Pipe who was runner up to Katchit last year is also in with a big chance, he is said to have come out of his race at Sandown very well and a big improvement is likely from the game front runner; Osana lost to Celestial Halo in that race!

Binocular remains hot favourite but the Nicholls challenger can be backed at 8-1.

Other Cheltenham Festival News

19 Feb 2009	Master Minded Must Be Festival Banker
18 Feb 2009	Bookies Find it Tough to Split Cousin Vinny and Mikael D’Haguenet For Supreme Novices
17 Feb 2009	Extra Time For Foxhunters Chase Entries
17 Feb 2009	Extra Time For Foxhunters Chase Entries
15 Feb 2009	Neptune Collonges Bang On For Gold Cup Bid
15 Feb 2009	Coral Cup Next For Serebad
15 Feb 2009	Ashkazar Strengthens The Pipe Champion Hurdle Hand
15 Feb 2009	Ustedes On Target For Ryanair Chase
14 Feb 2009	Kasbah Wins In Blistering Style
13 Feb 2009	William Hill Sponsor Supreme Novices Hurdle