Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

The most eagerly-awaited meeting of the entire year starts today at Cheltenham, where today´s main feature is the Champion Hurdle at 16.20 CET. Even after the surprising late withdrawal of ante-post favourite and last year´s winner Binocular, this is still an excellent race and 7 of the11 runners have serious chances. 2010 form is now represented by runner-up Khyber Kim (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan) and he ought to finish in the money again, although there are several newcomers, including 3 that ran here last year in the Supreme Novices: Menorah (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), Irish challenger Dunguib (Philip Fenton/ Brian O´Connell), who was a hot favourite and finished third, and Oscar Whisky (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), winner last time of the Welsh Champion Hurdle. All 3 are in good form, although Menorah, who is unbeaten here and has never finished worse than second in his entire career, is coming off a break.

Menorah seems likely to start favourite, although there is bound to be lots of Irish money for Hurricane Fly (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh), who looks their best chance. He has won 9 of his last 10 races and has beaten everything in Ireland, but his problem is that he has never run here nor raced against the top British hurdlers. He missed the last two Cheltenhams because of injury and this might tell against him. Course experience is a big advantage here and in any case, we feel that British hurdling form is better than the Irish.

The horse with the most impressive form figures - and after reflection, our selection- is Peddlers Cross (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire), who has won all his 7 races so far and scored here last year over a longer distance. He will be staying on at the death, no bad thing at this tough track with its uphill finish, and McCain has also entered the strong frontrunner Overturn (Graham Lee) to ensure a good pace.