Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
A two mile sprint race for the fastest hurdlers in national hunt racing. An ability to travel well at speed and jump without losing momentum is crucial.To watch video form for the face visit the Champion Hudle Form page.
Champion Hurdle Tips - Repeat Winners!
Istrabaq won three times in a row from 1998 - 2000 and then Hardy Eustace picked up titles in 2004 and 2005.Champion Hurdle Tips - Previous Festival Form Crucial!
Previous form at the Festival is always a massive plus when making your selections and this point is emphasised when considering the Champion Hurdle. Seven out of the last eight Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners had previously won at the festival. 13 out of the last 16 winners had finished first or second previously at the Cheltenham Festival!Very few of the runners met the criteria of having prior Festival form in 2008 and this helped us to tip Katchit at a very rewarding 10/1 in last years race. For 2009 the horse that stands out is Nicky Henderson's Binocular.
Runner up to Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices he has Festival form but he was so impressive when slamming Trumph Hurdle winner Celestial Halo by seven lengths at Aintree. He will only be five years old by the time of the 2009 Champion Hurdle but Kathit has broken the bad run of that age group in the race and he appears to have much more scope to improve than the other horses at the top end of the ante post market.
Back Binocular for the 2009 Champion Hurdle at 7/1 with Paddy Power
| 2009 Champion Hurdle Odds | ||
| Binocular |  | 6.00 |
| Katchit | | 6.00 |
| Osana | | 9.00 |
| Punjabi | | 11.00 |
| Sizing Europe | | 11.00 |
| Captain Cee Bee | | 13.00 |
| Sublimity | | 13.00 |
| Celestial Halo | | 15.00 |
| Jered | | 15.00 |
| Pierrot Lunaire | | 15.00 |
| Franchoek | | 17.00 |
| Ashkazar | | 21.00 |
| De Valira | | 34.00 |
| Group Captain | | 34.00 |
| Happy Valley | | 41.00 |
(c) 2002-2008 Cheltenham Betting Terms
