The Champion Hurdle Trial, sponsored by Unibet for the first time this season, is a Grade 2 Hurdle Race run at Haydock over 1 Mile 7 Furlongs and 144 Yards. It was first run in 1981, and has since been won by popular horses such as Flakey Dove, Relkeel, Dato Star, Rooster Booster and Inglis Drever. However, it is The New One who has made this race his own with a hat-trick of wins in the last three years, and he’ll hopefully line up to try and make it four wins.
10-Year-Trends
- Winners have been aged 5 to 9
- Winners have been rated between 143 and 167
- Nigel Twiston-Davis has trained the last 3 winners
- Sam Twiston-Davis has ridden the last 3 winners
- SP’s of the winners have ranged from 1/6 to 7/1
Main Contenders
The New One
Now older than the last 10 winners of the race at the age of 10, but has won the last three renewals, and has consistently run up to his mark in 4 races this season, despite being defeated in three of those. However, there was no disgrace in any of those defeats, in which he was conceding loads of weight to horses in the Greatwood Hurdle Handicap, conceding 6lb to My Tent Or Yours in the International Hurdle, and out-speeded by odds-on Champion Hurdler Buveur D’Air in the Christmas Hurdle. Obvious chance.
Ch’tibello
Course winner when the ground was heavy, a race in which he defeated My Tent Or Yours. However, finished behind The New One in the 2016 Christmas Hurdle, and again in this season’s International Hurdle. Only 1¾ lengths behind The New One in the International though and, as that was his first run of the season, he could close the gap here.
Call Me Lord
Vey impressive when beating an improving type at Sandown last time, and did so when carrying top-weight on heavy ground. This another step-up the ladder, but Nicky Henderson won the race with a similar 5-year-old in 2007.
Clyne
Dual course winner who was receiving 8lb when beaten 1-length by The New One in last year’s renewal and, though has run creditably in defeat in 5 runs since, there is no obvious reason why he should turn the form around this year.
Irving
Another 10-year-old, who won on his first visit to Haydock, but fell when travelling well in last year’s renewal of this race. Ran his usual good race in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance, and could go well on heavy ground if on a going day.
Agrapart
Biggest success came in winning the 2016 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury over 2-miles, but his best form since has come over 2½ miles at Cheltenham when finishing first and second in consecutive runnings of the Relkeel Hurdle. May need more of a test of stamina unless the ground is that heavy it’s almost unraceable.
Summary
The New One must concede weight to all but Agrapart and Irving, but all his rivals would be much better off if this was a handicap. He only 1lb well-in with Ch’tibello but, whilst that one may give him most to do, The New One can hopefully win the race for the fourth time.
2018 Unibet Champion Hurdle Trial Tip: The New One