New One Unibet Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 44.8s

Global Citizen²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 150| D

5/1

Known as a keen free-running type, yet had continued to progress quickly until paying the price for those forcing tactics in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day; with no Verdana Blue or Buveur D'Air in the line-up, this is more realistic.

Form: 116-214

Mohaayed^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 153| D

10/3

County Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018; back to winning ways in a Grade 3 at Ascot (2m, soft) prior to Christmas - the re-opposing Western Ryder finished 3¼L third and is now 4lb better off; solid.

Form: 231-471

Silver Streak³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 156| CD

13/8

Going away at the finish when landing the Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle over C&D in May; has continued to progress (now rated 24lb higher) finding only Nietzche (Greatwood) and Brain Power (International) stronger at Cheltenham so far this season; solid.

Form: U6-1122

Pingshou⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147| D

12/1

Talented hurdler who enjoyed Grade 1 success in the Top Novices' at Aintree (2m+, good) in April 2017; missed the 2017/18 campaign and only recently returned to action over fences (struggled); reverts to hurdling in an attempt to get back on track.

Form: 4013/45

Western Ryder^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145| D

3/1

Reliable, but has found suitable winning opportunities difficult to come by; 4lb better off with Mohaayed for a 3¼L beating (third) in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot (2m, soft); also has previous with Silver Streak.

Form: 265-533

Forecasts

Silver Streak (13/8), Western Ryder (3/1), Mohaayed (10/3), Global Citizen (5/1), Pingshou (12/1)

Not as strong a race as possibly anticipated by the sponsors but a competitive affair nevertheless. Silver Streak will rate as a most popular option among punters having seemingly gone from strength to strength since winning the Swinton Hurdle over C&D in May. He is the form pick based upon his rock-solid efforts in the Greatwood and International Hurdles (Cheltenham), yet a fraction more value at the odds rests with MOHAAYED. He had the measure of today's rival Western Ryder when winning a Grade 3 at Ascot immediately prior to Christmas and hopefully the forecast combination of overnight rain/sleet and snow will continue to ease conditions in his favour.