The Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday afternoon, with the Stan James Champion Hurdle the highlight of what looks likely to be an exciting first-day card.
Injuries have ruled out the last two winners, Annie Power and Faugheen, and that gives this year’s contest a much more open look with just about the entire field having some kind of chance based on their best form.
Check out our A-Z guide to the 12 runners…
BRAIN POWER – Form 1-3811
Jockey: David Mullins
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Has progressed well since a heavy defeat at Cheltenham on his seasonal debut, a race that came on ground much softer than he would like. Most impressive in winning a tough handicap at Ascot last time and might not have to improve a whole lot on that to contend in a Grade One which is lacking in top quality opposition. Chance improves further on good going. Rating: 8/10
BUVEUR D’AIR – Form: 31-111
Jockey: Noel Fehily
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Sluiced up in a Sandown tune-up last time out, having been switched back to hurdling after a brief novice chase campaign. Looked much more at home over the smaller obstacles, but this race will be a good deal tougher than his last and there are concerns, considering his lofty spot in the market, that he might prefer more dig in the ground. Rating: 6/10
CH’TIBELLO – Form: -35132
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Got closer to Yanworth in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton than he had in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but conditions are more likely to be nearer the latter race on Tuesday. His form on decent ground is perhaps a little less convincing. Rating: 4/10
CYRUS DARIUS – Form: 1/1-41
Jockey: Brian Hughes
Trainer: Malcolm Jefferson
Hugely impressive winner as a novice at the Aintree Festival, but sadly that race came back in 2014 and there have been plenty of injuries since. Finished well behind The New One (tenderly handled) at Haydock on his return from 16 months off in January and has since won at Kelso but that form is some way off top class. Rating: 3/10
FOOTPAD – Form: -11242
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Represents the winning stable from four of the last six years but would not have been anything like Willie Mullins’ first-choice Champion Hurdle hope five or six months ago. Did stay on well to finish second to Petit Mouchoir last time out but had become outpaced and tough to see him adding to the yard’s success in this race. Rating: 5/10
MOON RACER – Form: 11/211
Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Trainer: David Pipe
Bypasses Cheltenham’s novice events to take on what, on the face of it, looks like a much tougher task. You can understand connections going down the Champion route as their horse, who has been tough to keep sound, is already eight but his novice form gives him a lot to find. Talented but perhaps not enough even for a somewhat weaker renewal like this one. Rating: 4/10
MY TENT OR YOURS – Form: 2-3324
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Finished a brave second to Annie Power last year but would appear to be on the decline now and has been beaten by a few of these opponents already this year. Cheltenham does bring out the best in him but tough to see him bouncing back to win this. Could even be in to ensure a strong pace. Rating: 3/10
PETIT MOUCHOIR – Form: -23F11
Jockey: Bryan Cooper
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Well beaten in the Sky Bet Supreme last season by Altior, but has improved a good deal since then and could well have been coming here after three successive wins but for a fall when still travelling well in the Fighting Fifth. Likely front-runner who deserves his place at the head of the market and looks to be a leading contender if he can settle towards the head of the field. Rating: 10/10
SCEAU ROYAL – Form: 6-1143
Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Trainer: Alan King
Impressive winner on his first two runs this season and ran well enough in the Kingwell, when finishing less than three lengths behind Yanworth. Likely better ground at Cheltenham will definitely suit him and tough to explain the difference in price between this lively outsider and the likely favourite. Rating: 8/10
THE NEW ONE – Form: 4F-121
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Was meant to be going chasing this season but connections kept him to hurdles and have picked up a couple of Grade Two prizes as a reward. But that’s probably his level over this trip and he was all out to narrowly beat a horse rated 20 pounds lower last time out. Grade: 5/10
WICKLOW BRAVE – Form: 1/033-
Jockey: Paul Townend
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Hasn’t run over hurdles since November 2015, having since been kept to the flat where he won the Irish St Leger last year before finishing well behind in the Melbourne Cup. His two-mile hurdling form is some way off the best of these, even in a weaker Champion Hurdle, although he is a previous Festival winner from 2014. Rating: 4/10
YANWORTH – Form: 12-111
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Trainer: Alan King
You would have to doubt him being favourite for most recent Champion Hurdles, but Yanworth always just seems to do enough to win. Second over further in the Neptune at last year’s Festival and has to be a leading contender on that with stamina guaranteed – the main concern would have to be the flat spot he often seems to hit in running. Rating: 9/10
VERDICT:
Absentees make this year’s Champion Hurdle a much more open one than recent seasons, but the race is still there to be won and we could see an all-the-way winner in PETIT MOUCHOIR. Henry De Bromhead’s improving grey, should he settle, looks to have few holes unlike some of his competition. Yanworth should be coming home strongly, but could find himself with too much to do, while Sceau Royal looks best of the outsiders on ground that would seem sure to suit and Brain Power is also feared on quicker ground.