The Scottish Champion Hurdle (Saturday 13 April), is a Grade 2 Handicap Hurdle run over two-miles at Ayr Racecourse on the same day as the Scottish Grand National takes place. It was first run in 1966, and notable winners include champion hurdlers Alderbrook, Granville Again, Sea Pigeon, and Night Nurse.
Scottish Champion Hurdle 10-Year-Trends
- 8/10 winners have been aged either five or six
- Winners were rated between 130 and 148
- 8/10 winners carried 10-13 or less
- Only one favourite and one joint-favourite have won in the last 10 years
- SP’s of the winners have ranged from 4/1 to 25/1
Scottish Champion Hurdle 2019 Main Contenders
Nube Negra
Strong traveller who may have won two starts ago if not brought down late on. He was also heavily backed at Newbury last time when finishing third, but he came from a long way back that day. The handicapper has raised him three pounds for those runs but it’s easy to see him enjoying a quickly run Scottish Champion Hurdle and he should go close.
Malaya
It took connections quite a while to work out that this five-year-old is best held up and produced late. Those were the tactics when he won the Imperial Cup in impressive fashion and, though the handicapper has raised him six pounds for that success, he still looks potentially well-treated on a mark of 142, as he blundered two hurdles from home at Sandown.
Redicean
He was a strong fancy for last season’s Triumph Hurdle and it’s easy to see why as he gave Malaya five pounds and a seven-length beating last season, yet only has to give him two pounds here. Has mainly been running on the all-weather this season but trainer Alan King looks to have targeted this meeting with some of his better horses.
Benny’s Bridge
Won two of his last three starts and was asked to race from a long way out of the handicap in between when finishing seventh in the Imperial Cup. He’s much better off with Malaya here and has a chance.
Mister Fisher
It’s easy to forgive this novice hurdler a poor run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where he may not have been suited by either the undulations or soft ground. He had impressed when winning on flat tracks at Kempton and Haydock previously and Nico de Boinville rides him in preference to Verdana Blue, who he won the Christmas Hurdle on. A rating of 145 and 11-1 are not insurmountable.
Verdana Blue
Brings a touch of class to the race having won the Christmas Hurdle but wouldn’t be a typical winner of the race on a mark 154 and top-weight of 11-10. However, trainer Nick Henderson has reduced her weight by booking 7lb claimer Connor Brace to ride.
Scottish Champion Hurdle 2019 Summary
It’s easy to see Nube Negra and Malaya enjoying a strongly-run race, but both the lack the potential of Redicean and Mr Fisher who could easily fight out the finish. Mr Fisher is just preferred as, though he must carry 11-1, he could be well-treated on a mark of 145, whilst it looks a tip in itself that Nico de Boinville is booked to ride.
Scottish Champion Hurdle 2019 Tip
Mr Fisher (Each-Way)