Eight horses will line up for the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, the big race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. It’s the smallest field for more than 30 years, partly because of the scary reputation built up by the favourite, Faugheen. Can anything beat him?
Arctic Fire: best odds 18-1
“He’s in the wings there, I think improving all the time,” says his trainer, Willie Mullins, who was anxious to put in a good word for his apparent third-string behind Faugheen and Hurricane Fly. “I’m not discounting him. I still probably haven’t got the best out of him yet. If he doesn’t win a Champion, he’s going to win a real good race.” Arctic Fire was a close second in a handicap at the last Festival, his only previous visit, and could be a player if building on that, though his form in Ireland this season does not look good enough,
Bertimont 150-1
His only hurdles success in the past two years came in a Chepstow race in which his rivals allowed him to pinch a soft lead. In his last two starts, he has been beaten by The New One, who was carrying more weight each time. They will carry the same weight this time. At the age of five, he is young enough to be improving and he is with a good trainer but seems sure to lack the necessary quality unless everything falls exactly right for him.
Faugheen 5-4
The hot favourite after seven unbeaten runs over hurdles, including Festival success in a novice race last season. The expectation then was that he would be sent over fences but his trainer, Willie Mullins, changed his mind and has been rewarded with two more easy wins this season. No horse has finished within three lengths of him and, although he has not raced against the very best, the quality of his form is undeniable. He made a couple of mistakes at Cheltenham last year and will need to avoid doing that again.
Hurricane Fly 9-1
Much-loved record-breaking 11-year-old, the winner of 19 of 22 starts in the past five years. Alas, two of the three defeats in that time came in this race, suggesting he is not always fully effective around Cheltenham, despite having won this race in two other years. The unsentimental Ruby Walsh, who has been his only jockey for four years, has chosen to ride Faugheen. Would be the oldest winner since Sea Pigeon in 1981.
Jezki 9-2
The reigning champion, having pipped My Tent Or Yours a year ago. He followed up at Punchestown in May but this season has been disappointing, consisting of three defeats by Hurricane Fly. Many expect him to turn the tables with that one at Cheltenham, although his own record there is just one win from three. Wore a first-time hood for his Champion success and it is possible that that no longer works as well for him. Tony McCoy, on the runner-up last year, rides him this time.
Kitten Rock 33-1
Progressive five-year-old making a first visit to Cheltenham. Even allowing for the upward curve of his form, including victory in his last four races, this looks ambitious, which is why he is 33-1. He probably has to improve another stone but that cannot be ruled out. Jumping errors by his rivals have handed him easy wins in his last two races, which some will think means he is flattered, but he jumps well himself and will be suited if this is run at a strong pace. However, it is not out of the question that he will be used as a pacemaker for Jezki, in the same ownership.
The New One 7-2
The unlucky horse in last year’s race, when another horse fell in front of him, costing him momentum and many lengths. He finished third, beaten less than three lengths, suggesting that he may indeed have won with a clear run. He has not raced at Grade One level since but is unbeaten in five and, as a Festival winner in a Grade One novice race two years ago, must be considered a possible winner.
Vaniteux 33-1
The only representative of Nicky Henderson, whose five wins in this race match the trainer’s record. But Vaniteux’s two wins from seven starts over hurdles both came in ungraded novice races and defeat in his last four seems to have exposed him as not good enough. A drier surface than he has so far encountered might bring some improvement but he would be a highly speculative bet, even at 33-1.
Chris Cook’s verdict
1 Faugheen
2 The New One
3 Kitten Rock
