The injuries sustained to former Champion Hurdle winners Faugheen and Annie Power, both trained by Willie Mullins, have potentially opened the door for a new king of the two-mile hurdling division to be crowned at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Here we look at some of the main protagonists who will aim to put their credentials on the line at Prestbury Park.
Buveur D’Air – Nicky Henderson’s French-bred gelding created a distinctive impression in his comfortable win on heavy ground at Sandown earlier this month having been rerouted from novice chasing by the Lambourn handler to have a tilt at the Champion Hurdle. Only a six-year-old, the son of Crillon ran well behind Altior when an eight and a half-length third in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and has been well-backed following Faugheen’s injury to score for a trainer who knows how to win this contest.
Petit Mouchoir – Part of the Gigginstown House Stud team which left Willie Mullins last year and is now trained by the in-form Henry De Bromhead. The striking grey has improved rapidly under his new handler and has scored in a pair of Grade Ones at Leopardstown this season, culminating in a length success in the Irish Champion Hurdle. A solid jumper who was beaten by a quarter of a length by Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D’Air at Aintree last year, he looks to hold a solid chance.
Yanworth – The meteoric rise of Unowhatimeanharry meant this horse was rerouted towards the Champion Hurdle from the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle and that looks to have been a good call based on what Alan King’s charge has achieved this season. A narrow winner of his seasonal reappearance at Ascot, the seven-year-old son of Norse Dancer highlighted his staying credentials with an ultimately decisive three and a quarter-length victory over The New One and My Tent Or Yours at Kempton in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle. Yanworth’s form over two and a half-miles will surely stand him in good stead and he will provide Barry Geraghty with sleepless nights over which J P McManus-owned horse to ride.
Yorkhill – The rumour mill suggests there is a possibility he could follow Buveur D’Air’s lead and also switch from novice chasing, in which he has looked decent without being spectacular, for a titlt at the Champion Hurdle for which he needs supplementing. A superstar novice hurdler, Yorkhill won the Tolworth Hurdle before posting an impressive performance in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival last year beating Yanworth before also scoring in Grade One company at Aintree. He would look to hold a good chance and could become Mullins’ lead hope following the injuries to Faugheen and Annie Power.
Brain Power – Another potential Henderson runner who has improved markedly this year after third in a Grade One novices’ hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April last year. A winner of his last two starts, the six-year-old son of Kalanisi is a strong travelled and impressed with his effort at Ascot last time where he won a Grade Three handicap hurdle by five lengths winning with authority. He’ll be suited by a quick pace in the Champion Hurdle and could make the transition from handicapping to graded company in his stride.
Jezki – The 2014 Champion Hurdle winner is touted as being an intended runner in the three-mile Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival but an impressive reapperance victory at Navan in Janaury over two miles and with the Champion Hurdle field breaking at the seams, will J P McManus and Jessica Harrington be swayed by regaining their Champion Hurdle crown? Quite possibly.
Vroum Vroum Mag – Mullins’ super-sub who could end up over fences or hurdles at the Festival. Rich Ricci’s mare gamely justified odds of 1/5 at Doncaster in a Grade Two event last time but she has a list of options for Prestbury Park in March and looks more likely to end up in the Mares’ Hurdle.
The New One – An unlucky third in this race back in 2014, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge has run creditably this term, bagging a pair of Grade Two’s in between an excellent second to Yanworth in the Christmas Hurdle. Connections were thinking about a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle but like Jezki may be rerouted for this race.
Superb Story – Been lined up for this race following a narrow victory on his reappearance at Musselburgh last month. Last year’s County Hurdle winner has plenty of pace and is a lively each-way player for the race.
Apples Jade – A game winner over Vroum Vroum Mag at Fairyhouse in December and has not been seen since. May potentially run in the Mares’ Hurdle but is another lively each-way player.
Nichols Canyon – Up and down season and was beaten behind Petit Mouchoir when he fell last time under Ruby Walsh in the Champion Hurdle. Third in this race last year but looks up against it.
Sceau Royal – Started this season with two impressive victories at Cheltenham and Wincanton but was bitterly disappointing when a well-beaten eight and a half-length fourth to Irving in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November. Still only a five-year-old proving he has plenty of time on his side but it will be disappointing if he is winning the Champion Hurdle.
Verdict
With less than five weeks to go till the race, horses including Yanworth and Jezki are due to run again in the next week or so which may well make things clearer for punters as to where certain horses end up. However, Buveur D’Air whose trainer knows how to win this race surely holds a great chance even at this early stage.
