Trainer Gordon Elliott has revealed that unexposed hurdler Tombstone will be supplemented for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at a cost of £20,000.
The seven-year-old has been handled with kid gloves by Elliott with the son of Robin Des Champs finishing an excellent 12 and a half-lengths fourth in a superb renewal of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle highlighted by the three horses who beat him that day: Arkle hope Altior, Min and Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D’Air.
This season, the Irish-bred gelding was two and three-quarter lengths behind Jessica Harrington’s Jezki at Navan in January before turning the tables on Harrington’s charge with a four-length victory in the Grade Three Red Mills Hurdle last time out – in what was a pretty impressive performance from Tombstone.
Elliott has now revealed that Gigginstown House Stud will stump the £20,000 supplementary fee for the Grade One two-mile championship contest, which looks a very open renewal with Buveur D’Air heading the market at 7/2 with the race sponsors.
Speaking on his Betfair blog, Elliott said:
It looks an open race this year so we have decided to supplement Tombstone for the Champion Hurdle. He has come out of the Red Mills race in great shape so we are happy to take our chances.
Obviously he needs to improve but he hasn’t got many miles on the clock and the turnaround in form with Jezki was very encouraging.
Tombstone has been installed as a 16/1 shot by Stan James and will join fellow Gigginstown House owned gelding Petit Mouchoir, trained by Henry De Bromhead, who is a general 4/1 chance for the Grade One event.
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