15:30 Cheltenham

Tuesday 13 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 5.00s

Buveur D'Air³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 169| CD

8/15

Has won all three starts this season and is bidding to land back-to-back renewals of this after last year's 4½L success. This look a stronger renewal but he gives the impression we are yet to see the best of him and he's the one to beat.

Form: 111-111

Ch'tibello²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 154| BF| D

50/1

Won a Grade 2 but not won since November 2016 and was beaten 2½L by Elgin last time out when getting 4lb from that rival. Will struggle to reverse that form on worse terms here and hard to fancy in his toughest test to date.

Form: 132-422

Charli Parcs³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

100/1

Made a promising start to his career but very hit and miss since. Well beaten last time out at Newbury when 14th of 24 in a Grade 3 and he's seemingly the owner's least likely candidate from his three runners.

Form: 1F6-200

Elgin²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 161| CD

16/1

Improving throughout this season and has won twice in soft ground including over C&D in November. Likes to be held up and this should be run at a true pace so while this is a big step up in class, he may be able to run in to a place.

Form: 7-41161

Faugheen^p1³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 167| BF| CD

6/1

Has eight Grade 1 wins and won this race in 2015. Returned from 665-day absence to win at Punchestown but mixed signals on next two runs and needs to be back at his best to trouble Buveur D'air. Can't be ruled out and gets first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 211/1P2

Identity Thief²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 149| D

66/1

Grade 1 winner over hurdles in his pomp and he was an 8/1 shot in 2016 renewal of this when finishing sixth of 12. Sent over fences with mixed success last season and recent hurdles efforts well below the required standard of form to win this.

Form: U460-62

John Constable^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 156| D

50/1

Flattered by the losing margin when beaten by Buveur D'air in a three-runner heat at Sandown last time and probably wants better ground than what he will get here. Needs a large chunk of improvement just to challenge for minor honours.

Form: 0F-1162

Melon³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| BF| D

16/1

Runner-up in the 2017 Supreme and less exposed than many of his rivals here. However, well beaten behind stablemate Faugheen at Leopardstown last time out and there's a suspicion he wants better ground than the forecast going. Stable second-string.

Form: 122-135

Mick Jazz^h,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| D

33/1

Winner of the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown (Faugheen pulled up) but that rival comfortably reversed the form at the same course last time. Tends to travel well but needs to improve something like a stone to be involved for win purposes

Form: 31-3513

Wicklow Brave^b¹²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| C| D

14/1

Got the better of My Tent Or Yours in a Grade 1 when last seen over hurdles and has been running well in some top class Flat races since. Well beaten in this race last year but he acts in this ground and he has place claims. Walsh prefers Faugheen.

Form: 1033/71-

Yorkhill³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| C| D

10/1

Not the most straightforward type but very talented horse when he puts it all together. Won the Neptune here in 2016 and landed the JLT over fences last year but it's a big ask to land this on first start back over timber in nearly two years.

Form: 1112-86

Non-Runners

My Tent Or Yours⁸⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: N J Henderson J: Aidan Coleman

Verdana Blue³¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Buveur D'Air (8/15), Faugheen (6/1), Yorkhill (10/1), My Tent Or Yours (12/1), Wicklow Brave (14/1), Melon (16/1), Elgin (16/1), Mick Jazz (33/1), Ch'tibello (50/1), John Constable (50/1), Identity Thief (66/1), Verdana Blue (66/1), Charli Parcs (100/1)

If Faugheen returned to the form that saw him win this race in 2015, he would surely go close to landing his ninth Grade 1 here, but with doubts about exactly how much ability the 10-year-old has retained after two below par efforts at Leopardstown, the most likely winner has to be BUVEUR D'AIR. Nicky Henderson's charge may not have beaten much so far this season, but the manner of his victories have been most convincing and he could be the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the race since Hardy Eustace in 2004/2005. My Tent Or Yours and Elgin can fight it out for minor honours with the former narrowly preferred given his record at the course.