Binocular and Solwhit have both been left in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the six-day stage. The former had been expected to miss the Cheltenham Festival but could book his place in the line-up if pleasing connections when working this week.
Solwhit had been challenging for favouritism before scoping badly on Monday and he faces a race against time to be fit for the big race. Two notable absentees are Dunguib and Quevega but both have alternative Cheltenham Festival targets with the former heading to the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Quevega defending her crown in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson, trainer of Binocular, has declared last year’s winner Punjabi and Zaynar. Celestial Halo, second in the race last season, is set to represent Paul Nicholls.
A strong Irish team is headed by Go Native and also includes Donnas Palm, Ebadiyan, Jumbo Rio, Kargali, Muirhead, Raise Your Heart, Royal And Regal, and Won In The Dark. Khyber Kim, Medermit and Starluck complete the declarations.
Best prices for the Champion Hurdle:
The Countdown to Cheltenham continued today, with the first of the five-day declarations announced for the opening days racing. Seventeen acceptors remain in first of the Championship races where Go Native remains William Hills 7-2 favourite for the Smurfit Cappa Champion Hurdle.
The seven-year-old was last seen finishing a short-head in-front of Starluck in the Williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and boasts some of the strongest form in the Champion Hurdle with victories over Medermit, Solwhit, Starluck, and Binocular.
Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: The spread of money that we are seeing for the Champion Hurdle contenders is indicative of how tricky punters are finding this years renewal. A live argument can be made for any of the first nine in the betting. The Champion Hurdle has reached an unusual position of being as difficult to work-out than the Pertemps!
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle: 7-2 Go Native, 5-1 Solwhit, 7-1 Punjabi, 15-2 Zaynar, 8-1 Medermit, 9-1 Khyber Kim, 10-1 Binocular, 12-1 Celestial Halo, Starluck, 50-1 Donnas Palm, 66-1 Won In The Dark, 100-1 Ebadiyan, Jumbo Rio, Muirhead, Royal And Regal, 200-1 Raise Your Heart, Kargali All Quoted – (EW ¼ 1,2,3,4)
William Hill – Champion Hurdle Betting Facts:
Biggest prices laid
Go Native 33-1
Zaynar 16-1
Medermit 33-1
Punjabi 16-1
Khyber Kim 50-1
Number of ante-post favourites since betting opened. FIVE (Hurricane Fly, Binocular, Zaynar, Solwhit, Go Native
Biggest Loser: Binocular
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Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is full of confidence ahead of Khyber Kim’s bid for Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle glory. His charge has been a revelation this season, winning the Greatwood Hurdle and Boylesports International at Cheltenham.
“Khyber Kim is in tremendous form and we are very confident going into the race. In my opinion, he is the forgotten horse but never mind, let’s go and win.” the trainer said.
Twiston-Davies also insists his star doesn’t need testing ground to be at his best.
“The first day of The Cheltenham Festival will probably be the softest ground anyway but he doesn’t need soft. He has a lot of class and I’m very happy with him. I don’t think Paddy Brennan or I would swap him for any other, in fact I’m certain we wouldn’t,” he added.
