Unibet Champion Hurdle: Runner-by-runner guide and our best bet

It’s all to play for.

We have been waiting all season long for that standout contender to stamp their claims on this year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle, but instead we’re set for a wide-open renewal.

The highest-rated runner this time has a mark of 162; Espoir D’Allen landed last year’s race from that rating but had four rivals to contend with from higher marks in a ten-runner field. In the past ten years, a mark of around 165 has proved the median rating of a Champion Hurdle winner before the race.

While this year’s contest looks below-par strictly in terms of the form credentials of the principal contenders, the hazy picture provides a fascinating puzzle for punters. This is no Festival showdown but still a race high on intrigue and no little appeal.

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies. Official rating: 155. Cheltenham form: 113440032

General odds: 22-1 RTV mark out of ten: 4.5

The former Champion Bumper winner has good Festival form and arrives here after landing his biggest prize over hurdles so far in Grade Two company at Haydock.

This strong stayer will likely get the soft ground he needs and is not one to write off as an outside contender for the places, though he is held by the likes of Epatante and Silver Streak on this season’s form.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Official rating: 157. Cheltenham form: 1

General odds: 16-1. RTV mark: 3

One of five runners here for the most successful trainer in Champion Hurdle history, Call Me Lord is unbeaten at the track after success on a belated first run at Prestbury Park in the International Hurdle.

He’d want genuine soft ground in this company and has to bounce back from a disappointing effort at his favoured Sandown last time.

Trainer: Willie Mullins. Official rating: 158. Cheltenham form: 5

General odds: 8-1. RTV mark: 6

A Champion Chase contender at the start of the season, connections have supplemented for this race as they believe the eight-year-old more likely to at least hit the frame here than in the showpiece two-mile event over fences.

A Grade 1 winner as a novice, his form overall over hurdles lacks ballast and his jumping was sketchy last time but he beat a fair yardstick comfortably and picked up well in the straight. Given his profile and trainer, he likely merits more respect than the current bare facts.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott. Official rating: 155. Cheltenham form: 2

General odds: 16-1. RTV mark: 5.5

Second in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, the five-year-old made a big impression on his return at Down Royal.

He travelled very well in the Irish Champion Hurdle but was not asked the question in the closing stages and rider Davy Russell reported he made a noise.

His wind has been tinkered with since and softer ground is no issue. His profile lacks substance overall, but he’s shown fair promise this year and boasts place claims.

Trainer: Micky Hammond. Official rating: 159. Cheltenham form: - General odds: 33-1. RTV mark: 3.5

A Grade One winner over hurdles who relishes testing conditions, he looks likely to continue with the front-running tactics that have reaped rich rewards this season.

The six-year-old was conceding weight to Ballyandy and Pentland Hills when beaten under a length last time and on a literal view of that form he’s overpriced.

This test demands more in a bigger field on better ground and with competition for the lead.

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Official rating: 153. Cheltenham form: -

General odds: 66-1. RTV mark: 2

Talked up as a potential dark horse for this race earlier in the campaign, he has proved disappointing in two starts this term on his favoured testing ground.

The trainer’s horses typically improve with racing and throughout the season, but he hasn’t shown enough this term to suggest he can get involved here.

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell. Official rating: 152.__ Cheltenham form__: -

General odds: 12-1. RTV mark: 7

The eight-year-old has enjoyed a very unlikely rise, breaking his maiden in a Wexford handicap hurdle from a mark of 106 less than 12 months ago.

Despite being one of the lowest-rated in the field, he is a genuine improver and a strong-staying two-miler who has two strong recent efforts at Grade One level.

This test will suit and you can see him rocketing home like he did at Leopardstown last time. He holds decent claims.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Official rating: 159. Cheltenham form: 0General odds: 4-1. RTV mark: 6.5

The six-year-old flopped at last year’s Festival but her trainer cited the equine influenza outbreak as highly problematic for her preparation and she deserves another chance.

That no-show is still something to bear in mind given her price and she is keen in the early stages. This Grade One winner gets the 7lb allowance and has hit the line well this season, though her odds don’t particularly entice.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Official rating: 150. Cheltenham form: -

General odds: 16-1. RTV mark: 4

The five-year-old looked very good as a juvenile last season and his trainer indicated significant improvement from his workmanlike return in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

He was disappointing in the Christmas Hurdle last time though and must bounce back now, while the wet winter has prevented another run before the Festival. He doesn’t convince on this season’s form and must also overcome the poor record of five-year-olds in this race.

Trainer: Philip Hobbs. Official rating: 153. Cheltenham form: 20426

General odds: 150-1. RTV mark: 1

Only six, yet a fine servant who has won seven of his 19 races under both codes -- he carries the same colours as 2003 Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster.

A good handicapper, he doesn’t hold form so far which suggests he can play a role here despite his official rating being within hailing distance of several of his potential rivals.

Trainer: Dr Richard Newland. Official rating: 151. Cheltenham form: 418

General odds: 200-1. RTV mark: 1

A fine campaign over hurdles last season culminated with success in the Swinton Hurdle and a 19lb rise in the handicap.

Things have not gone so well this time and he was last of four over fences in a Grade Two novice chase at Doncaster last time.

Trainer: Hughie Morrison. Official rating: 144.__ Cheltenham form__: -

General odds: 40-1. RTV mark: 2.5

An exuberant front-runner rated 94 on the Flat, his jumping has improved in just five hurdles starts before an unfortunate experience in the Betfair Hurdle last time when a standing start compromised his chance.

While his latest victory was impressive, that came from a mark of 127 and he will face competition for the lead here.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Official rating: 157. Cheltenham form: 15

General odds: 5-1. RTV mark: 6

Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner has polarised opinion like no other horse in this year’s Champion Hurdle.

A fantastic jumper, he shaped very well on seasonal debut when far too exuberant and looked much the best at Haydock last time but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. His palate has been cauterized since then but whether than brings about improvement is uncertain.

He’s interesting on better ground but there looks no real juice in his odds. Despite a five-year-old winner last season, this age group has a poor record in the race with two winners from 65 runners since 1997 (44% below market expectation).

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead. Official rating: 155. Cheltenham form: 8330

General odds: 28-1. RTV mark: 4.5

Third in the Champion Hurdle in 2017, the nine-year-old has bounced back to form this year and has placed on his last three runs - all at Grade One level.

He will pop out and make this a test and despite his odds is fancied to have most of this field behind him at the winning post.

Trainer: Willie Mullins. Official rating: 162. Cheltenham form: 80

General odds: 14-1. RTV mark: 5

The seven-year-old is a three-time Grade One winner but can be inconsistent and was “terrible” by the trainer’s own admission in the Irish Champion Hurdle last time.

He jumps well and no horse is rated higher here, but he needs to bounce back and he will not get his favoured quick ground.

Trainer: Evan Williams. Official rating: 158. Cheltenham form: 223

General odds: 25-1. RTV mark: 5

Third in last year’s race at a huge price, the seven-year-old has been campaigned with the race as his principal target this time and has acquitted himself respectably.

Excellent on his return at Kempton, he also ran well for second in the Christmas Hurdle last time behind Epatante. More is required but he again has place credentials in an open renewal.

Trainer: Jessica Harrington. Official rating: 159. Cheltenham form: 67127

General odds: 12-1. RTV mark: 7

The elder statesman here, the 10-year-old is arguably the bona-fide Grade One performer in the line-up with three victories at the top level and competing in the premier grade on his last 14 appearances.

He shaped nicely on his return in the Irish Champion Hurdle and the vibes are strong about a bold showing here with a back catalogue of good Festival form. Softer ground will suit this strong stayer and he looks one of the likelier contenders.

Supasundae has a ballast of top-level form that suggests he’s still overpriced, but DARVER STAR could be the genuine improver here in a test that promises to genuinely suit this strong stayer for last year’s Champion Hurdle-winning trainer.

He has posted two excellent efforts on his last two starts at Grade One level and may well prove up to task here to crown one of jumps racing’s most remarkable rises through the ranks in recent years.