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15:30 Cheltenham

Tuesday 13 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 5.0s

1^st

Buveur D'Air

711-10

8/15f

T: N J HendersonJ: B J Geraghty

Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, soon leant on rival, led before 2 out, hard pressed by runner-up after, driven flat, edged right towards finish, found extra close home op 4/7 tchd 8/11

2^nd

Melon

611-10

16/1

T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend

Mid-division, closed on downhill run after 5th, not much room and checked after 3 out, challenged from next, upsides winner flat, edged right towards finish, held close home op 14/1

3^rd

Mick Jazz

711-10

33/1

T: G ElliottJ: D N Russell

Held up rear of mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd from next, unable to quicken last, soon edged left briefly, no impression but kept on

4^th

Identity Thief

811-10

66/1

T: H De BromheadJ: S W Flanagan

Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, hit next and lost further ground, kept on before last, went 4th flat but no chance with leaders tchd 66/1

5^th

1 ¾

Elgin

611-10

16/1

T: A KingJ: Wayne Hutchinson

Held up in mid-division, effort 2 out, went 4th but not pace of leaders from home turn, stayed on same pace and lost 4th flat

6^th

Faugheen

1011-10

6/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Ruby Walsh

Led, headed after 1st, chased leader, mistake 4th, led after 3 out, soon leant on rival, headed before 2 out, weakened well before last op 5/1

7^th

Wicklow Brave

911-10

14/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins

Held up in last trio, headway on outside 3 out, chasing leaders after next, soon ridden and beaten, weakened before last

8^th

1 ¼

Ch'tibello

711-10

50/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton

Held up in last trio, ridden after 2 out, soon beaten, well held and hanging left before last

9^th

John Constable

711-10

50/1

T: Evan WilliamsJ: L P Aspell

Held up in rear, niggled along before 3 out, well beaten after 2 out

Also Ran

Charli Parcs

511-10

100/1

T: N J HendersonJ: N D Fehily

Tracked leader, led after 1st, clear before 5th until approaching 3 out, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last

Yorkhill

811-10

10/1

T: W P MullinsJ: D J Mullins

Held up in last trio, took keen hold, last and ridden before 3 out, soon losing touch, well behind 2 out, pulled up before last tchd 16/1

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Non-Runners

Verdana Blue³¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: Non Runner

My Tent Or Yours⁸⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: N J Henderson J: Aidan Coleman

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.50Pl:£1.10, £2.10, £4.20EX:£6.80Trifecta:£61.00Tricast:£75.36SF:£6.67Swingers:£1.70, £6.40, £17.00

Forecasts

Buveur D'Air (8/15), Faugheen (6/1), Yorkhill (10/1), My Tent Or Yours (12/1), Wicklow Brave (14/1), Melon (16/1), Elgin (16/1), Mick Jazz (33/1), Ch'tibello (50/1), John Constable (50/1), Identity Thief (66/1), Verdana Blue (66/1), Charli Parcs (100/1)

If Faugheen returned to the form that saw him win this race in 2015, he would surely go close to landing his ninth Grade 1 here, but with doubts about exactly how much ability the 10-year-old has retained after two below par efforts at Leopardstown, the most likely winner has to be BUVEUR D'AIR. Nicky Henderson's charge may not have beaten much so far this season, but the manner of his victories have been most convincing and he could be the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the race since Hardy Eustace in 2004/2005. My Tent Or Yours and Elgin can fight it out for minor honours with the former narrowly preferred given his record at the course.