Cheltenham Festival 2009 – Champion Hurdle Preview
The 2009 Champion Hurdle could well be one of the most interesting races on the 2009 Cheltenham Festival card.
The 2008 Champion Hurdle really lacked significant strength in depth. Taking nothing away from the winner Katchit, who blew the stats apart by being a winning 5 year old, there were a lot of average horses that took their chance. As a 6 year old, Katchit would have a big chance of back to back wins. He currently rates around a 6/1 chance on most ante post lists.
Sublimity could not reproduce his performance from the previous year, finishing 4th, 7 lengths adrift of Katchit. He did have an interrupted preparation and may have been better served by softer underfoot conditions. His current quote of 14/1 seems about right. I assume John Carr will choose to try and get him spot on for the Champion Hurdle again and any prep races will be just that, preparation for the big day in March. As a result, his price may not get a lot shorter between now and then.
David Pipe’s charge Osana had a cracking season. He did not stop improving and actually gave Katchit an 8 length beating at his beloved Cheltenham under a great ride from Paddy Brennan. I feel like a lot of Pipe’s horses have one or two races too many in a season. Osana is only a small horse and prior to this year, had been on the go constantly. A lighter campaign may see his Champion Hurdle chances improve. At 8/1 currently, Osana is a serious contender for the 2009 Champion Hurdle crown.
I don’t know what to make of Sizing Europe. Undoubtedly a talented animal, he found nothing for pressure at the business end of this year’s race. It’s too early to write him off but I’d be looking to oppose this one especially if he looks impressive in easier contests between now and 10th March and goes off at a short price. He’s sitting at around 10/1 just now but I could see this being shorter come race day.
Punjabi was a personal fancy of mine in the 2008 Champion Hurdle on the back of his cracking effort at Newbury in the Totesport Trophy under top weight. He went on to finish third in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and proved that was no fluke by winning the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. While I think it’s a big ask for Punjabi to win the Champion Hurdle in 2009 against a lot of up and coming and unexposed rivals, I think he is as game and genuine as they come and could well still have a bit of improvement in him. 14/1 could look a big price come the festival.
Of the new contenders for the crown, Binocular is the one vying for favouritism alongside Katchit at 6/1. He looked extremely impressive in his novice season, going down by just two lengths behind the highly rated Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices Hurdle before trouncing his rivals in the John Smith’s Novices Hurdle at Aintree the following month. He is a bit short for me but and also has the 5yo stat to overcome but Katchit did it last year so who is to say Binocular can’t turn the stats on their head again.
An outsider to consider could be David Pipe’s Ashkazar. Pipe has stated that Ashkazar is showing similar form at home to Osana at the same stage of his career and believes the horse will show further improvement throughout the season. At 20/1, he is probably worth a small interest.
2009 Champion Hurdle Betting - Get the latest odds on the big race.
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Tags: ashkazar, binocular, champion hurdle 2009, Cheltenham Festival 2009, katchit