Espoir D’Allen caused one of the biggest shocks in racing recent memory with a historic win in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The build up to the race had been billed as a three-way battle between superstars Buveur D’Air and Apple’s Jade, as well as the young pretender Laurina.
But it was Espoir D’Allen who prevailed, making it three wins in a row in the race for owner JP McManus, and becoming just the second five-year-old to win the race in the last 34 years.
When Buveur D’Air, the two-time champion looking for a historic hat-trick, fell early it was clear a different race would play out to the one that had been expected.
Still, two of the leading fancies remained but Apple’s Jade fell away a long way from home, and Laurina made a mistake two out, to leave Espoir D’Allen and last year’s runner-up Melon to contest the finish.
Where last year Melon had pushed Buvuer D’Air all the way to the line, here five-year-old Espoir D’Allen romped clear under Mark Walsh to secure a stunning win for trainer Gavin Cromwell.
Melon’s second was still a surprise after a poor season, while third was taken by 80-1 shot Silver Streak.
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