Champion Hurdle Form Guide 2012
The 2012 Champion Hurdle is rapidly approaching and we will be closely following all the major contenders in the Champion Hurdle Odds right here. There are several trial races that will be taking place over the coming months and we will be keeping a close eye on each of them so you can be sure you will get all the information you need for the 2012 Champion Hurdle.
Perhaps the most important horse to keep an eye on over the winter will be Hurricane Fly who will be heading back to the Champion Hurdle to defend the race he won so well last season.
Main Contenders - Form Guide 2012
Hurricane Fly
The Willie Mullins horse was far too good for his rivals last season and most believe he will repeat that in 2012. Hurricane Fly has been difficult to get ready this season and only made his reappearance recently when he won the Irish Champion Hurdle in emphatic fashion. Ruby Walsh was motionless at Leopardstown when beating the likes of Oscars Well and Thousand Stars with ease and is the hot favourite for the Cheltenham race now.
Latest Hurricane Fly Champion Hurdle Odds 2012
Thousand Stars
Thousand Stars has often played understudy to Hurricane Fly for Willie Mullins but after winning the Morgiana Hurdle in some style on his first run this season he could be a major contender himself. Thousand Stars ran fourth in the Champion Hurdle last season which is good form and he looks a better horse this season, the only note of caution is that he could also go to the World Hurdle at Cheltenham. He went off as the warm favourite for the Istabraq Hurdle over Christmas but came unstuck when only second behind Unaccompanied which highlights he may have something to find at Cheltenham.
Latest Thousand Stars Champion Hurdle 2012 Win Odds
Grandouet
Nicky Henderson always has a strong hand in the Champion Hurdle and in Grandouet he has an up and coming star who could be a potential Champion Hurdle star. The horse had a good campaign last season with a third place finish in the Triumph Hurdle looking like very good form. He fell at Wincanton first time out this season but immediately backed that up with a brilliant win in the Betfair Hurdle to spark talk of a Champion Hurdle run in March. He followed that up with a win in the International Hurdle on his first race out of his age group and Grandouet looks a real star of the future.
Grandouet Champion Hurdle 2012 Betting
Overturn
The Donald McCain horse is well known for his front running style and that payed dividends recently when he won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in some style. The horse has had success on the flat and over the hurdles recently and after he lowered the colours of Binocualr in some style at Newcastle he now looks a real Champion Hurdle threat. The win at Newcastle followed on from his win in the Coral Hurdle at ascot, that day he was in a thrilling battle with Oscar Whisky before his rival fell at the last. Whether he has the class in a race with the likes of Hurricane Fly is debatable but his form is good and has to have each-way claims if fit.
Latest Overturn Champion Hurdle Win Odds
Binocular
The 2010 Champion hurdler has proven inconsistent since that win at Cheltenham but on his best form Binocular is still a force to be reckoned with. He started his season off with a poor run behind Overturn in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle before bouncing back in the Christmas Hurdle. Binocular won a thrilling race at Kempton over Christmas to hold off Rock On Ruby with Overturn only able to finish third in a top race. Connections have stated several times that Binocular is a tough horse to get right but if he arrives at Cheltenham fit and well he cannot be ruled out.
Binocular Champion Hurdle 2012 Odds
Unaccompanied
Any horse that Dermot Weld sends to the Cheltenham Festival has to be respected and that certainly applies to the exciting Unaccompanied. Last season the mare ran a brilliant race to finish second behind Zarkandar in the Triumph Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle now looks her likely target in 2012. Unaccompanied surprised many when she won the Istabraq Hurdle at the end of December beating the well fancied Thousand Stars into second place at Leopardstown. It is worth noting she is yet to be tested at the very highest Champion Hurdle level so does have something to find but is clearly one to watch this season and seems to be on an upward curve.
