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Cheltenham Champion Hurdlle Day 2010

March 12, 2010
By Ian Wade

Well the wait is nearly over and the Cheltenham Festival will get underway on Tuesday 16th with the centre piece being the Champion Hurdle. This years race looks a very open affair. There is nothing of the calibre of a Night Nurse who is the best Hurdler that I have ever seen. Night Nurse (pictured on right leading Monksfield and Dramatist at the last in 1977) won the race in 1976 and 1977. This years race has Go Native attemping to win a £1 million bonus if he can add to his Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle wins. Nicky Henderson has a strong hand with his three runners. Punjabi won the race last year in a driving finish from Celestrial Halo and the 6/4 favourite Binocular who also runs again for Nicky Henderson. His third string is Zaynar who if you ignore his last run must have a great each way chance. Zaynar won last years Triumph Hurdle over course and distance and will be ridden on Tuesday by Andrew Tinkler.

The meeting starts with the Supreme Novices Hurdle, won last year by Go Native from unlucky in running Medermit. As mentioned in an earlier blog this race should go to Dunguib but he is not a betting proposition for the small punter.
The 2 mile Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase was won last year by Forpadydeplasterer from Kalahari King. This year there is a lot of confidence behind Captain Cee Bee who will surely go off favourite. There is not much between him and Sizing Europe who might be the each way value.
The runners and riders for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase are very sketchy at the moment. I am hoping Niche Market runs and puts in a good performance in preparation for the Grand National on April 10th.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

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