Trainer Paul Nicholls has shown on many occasions in the past that he has no fear when testing his Cheltenham Festival contenders against the best that Ireland has to offer. It's why the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday looks to be a fantastic race in prospect, with the Nicholls trained Celestial Halo taking on major Champion Hurdle contender, Solwhit.
Celestial Halo of course was runner up behind Punjabi in the 2009 Champion Hurdle at the Festival and is being aimed at the race again this year. The five year old has already finished in front of Punjabi this season, when a somewhat disappointing second, behind Khyber Kim in the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December; Punjabi could only manage fourth.
Celestial Halo is currently 5/2 second favourite to win this race with Ladbrokes, but favouritism lies with the very impressive Solwhit, who has been readily pushing his claims all season for top honours in the Champion Hurdle. He is currently 4/5 odds on, also with Ladbrokes. Beaten only once this season when third behind Go Native in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, Solwhit has done nothing else wrong and looked very classy when coming back to win the Grade One, December Hurdle last time out, with 2007 Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity well beaten in second.
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The market is looking likely to be dominated by the big two, but punters should not completely ignore the claims of Sublimity, who finished second in the Fighting Fifth and had Solwhit behind him, even though Solwhit has subsequently reversed the form. There is also the interesting Noel Meade entry Donnas Palm, who has won her last three starts, including the Grade Two, Tara Hurdle in December last time out. This is yet another step up in class for the six year old, which might well prove to be her undoing, but that said she should not be completely discounted.
Irish Champion Hurdle Betting
Odds Courtesy of Ladbrokes
4/5 Solwhit
5/2 Celestial Halo
11/2 Donnas Palm
8/1 Sublimity
20/1 Torpichen
33/1 Won In The Dark
50/1 De Valira
66/1 Bahrain Storm
Latest Irish Champion Hurdle Betting Odds Comparison Table
Posted: Friday, 22nd January 2010
Author: Rodney Wise
Tags: irish champion hurdle, leopardstown, solwhit, celestial halo, ladbrokes,
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