Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle
2m 110y, Cheltenham, Tuesday 10 March 1520 GMT
Number, form, horse's name, age, weight, trainer, jockey.
Odds are a guide for information purposes only.

By Russell Barder

Verdict: It's hard to look beyond Binocular for this one. The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old is most people's banker for the Festival, along with Master Minded, and with Tony McCoy on board it would be a brave punter who goes against him.

Pinsticker's choice:
1 Binocular 2 Celestial Halo 3 Whiteoak

1 302-0344 ALPH 12 11-10
Roger Teal Colin Bolger
Fourth in his last two outings behind Celestial Halo and Crack Away Jack and third behind Snap Tie at Kempton in October suggests some vestige of talent, but the 12-year-old will be very much making up the numbers in this race.
Rating: 2/10 Odds: 500-1

2 14112-0 ASHKAZAR (FR) 5 11-10
David Pipe Timmy Murphy
Beat the highly regarded Whiteoak and favourite Punjabi, third in the Champion Hurdle last year, on soft ground at Wincanton in February and was a runner-up to Crack Away Jack at the Festival last year so has to be respected.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 20-1

3 1121-11 BINOCULAR (FR) 5 11-10
Nicky Henderson Tony McCoy
Beaten once in last six outings and many people's idea of the Festival banker, alongside Master Minded. Was beaten into second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago but was an impressive winner of the International Hurdle at Ascot in December, beating Celestial Halo, and has since been rested by trainer Nicky Henderson.
Rating: 9/10 Odds: 13-8

4 62-1333 BLUE BAJAN (IRE) 7 11-10
Andrew Turnell Graham Lee
Placed third in his last three outings, the latest behind Harchibald and Snap Tie at Kempton on Boxing Day. Has improved on every outing, but there remains a big gulf between him and the leading contenders here.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 66-1

5 1226/-231 BRAVE INCA (IRE) 11 11-10
Colm Murphy IRE Dominic Elsworth
Won the Irish Champion Hurdle ahead of four of his Cheltenham competitors on heavy ground and has 15 wins from 33 starts to his name. Has battled back well from a leg injury but looks like falling short this time around.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 25-1

6 1212-21 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 5 11-10
Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
Could prove to be Binocular's main threat having won three and placed second in six outings over hurdles. However, he failed to impress in winning the Totepool Contenders Hurdle at Sandown in January when 1/2 favourite. Strong claims of at least placing after excelling at Cheltenham last season.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 9-1

7 311-125 CRACK AWAY JACK 5 11-10
Emma Lavelle Noel Fehily
Much hyped five-year-old but looked out of place as he finished fifth behind Binocular, Celestial Halo and Katchit at Ascot in December. Might have an outside chance of placing but his odds do seem generous.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 12-1

8 P355/11- CYBERGENIC (FR) 11 11-10
Paul Murphy Keith Mercer
This French entry last raced in June 2007 and it would be a massive surprise if he was to upset any of the contenders here. Definitely one to avoid.
Rating: 2/10 Odds: 1000-1

9 15003-2 EBAZIYAN (IRE) 8 11-10
Willie Mullins IRE Paul Townend
Claimed his sixth career win at the beginning of March and suits any ground. Should improve on his 12th-place finish last year but does not jump well enough to be considered one of the better Irish entries.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 66-1

10 5/1204-1 HARCHIBALD (FR) 10 11-10
Noel Meade IRE Paul Carberry
Finished first at Kempton on Boxing Day when a 7-1 shot after the favourite Punjabi fell. Was runner-up in this race back in 2006 and connections feel he is running as well as ever, so could pose a threat this time around.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 33-1

11 220-1305 HARDY EUSTACE (IRE) 12 11-10
Dessie Hughes IRE Paddy Flood
Had nothing left two out in his last outing in January at Leopardstown after leading three out. Age will be a factor and probably ran his best that day so is unlikely to feature.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 100-1

12 5111-13 JERED (IRE) 7 11-10
Noel Meade IRE David Casey
Last ran in November as he placed third behind Hardy Eustace and Sizing Europe. May find the going a little too soft to make an impression here.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 33-1

13 211-234 KATCHIT (IRE) 6 11-10
Alan King Robert Thornton
Last year's winner has only failed to place once in 16 outings over hurdles and that was at Ascot in December when he was well beaten by Binocular, Celestial Halo and Chomba Womba. It would be wrong to write him off just yet, but he has become a bit lazy.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 14-1

14 1110-542 MUIRHEAD (IRE) 6 11-10
Noel Meade IRE Davy Condon
Put in a career-best performance as he finished second behind Brave Inca at Leopardstown in January. A fast run will suit him and is continually improving.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 33-1

15 02/2122-2 OSANA (FR) 7 11-10
David Pipe Andrew McNamara
Looked good for a win at Sandown in January, but an untidy finish saw him run in behind Celestial Halo. Runner-up in this race last year and any improvement will put him right in the frame again.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 10-1

16 1424-15 OTHERMIX (FR) 5 11-10
Tom George Paddy Brennan
Has not had a chance to run since joining Tom George's yard and will make his debut in his race. Has not competed since June last year in France and is unlikely to place highly here.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 100-1

17 4231-1F PUNJABI 6 11-10
Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
Failed to run to his best last time out at Wincanton last month but showed no ill affects after a heavy fall at the second-last in the Christmas Hurdle. Third in this race in 2008 but probably asking too much for a repeat performance.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 25-1

18 P210-103 RIVER LIANE (FR) 5 11-10
Thomas Cooper IRE Niall Madden
Just two wins for this French horse in nine outings but finished a surprise third in the Irish Champion Hurdle in January. Travels very well and his best is yet to come. Perhaps one for the future.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 150-1

19 4/100-11 SENTRY DUTY (FR) 7 11-10
Nicky Henderson Andrew Tinkler
Was in eye-catching form to win the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle back in December. Continues to progress and will have an outside chance of placing.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 25-1

20 SIZING EUROPE NON-RUNNER

21 1223-123 SNAP TIE (IRE) 7 11-10
Phillip Hobbs Richard Johnson
Finished third when 11/10 favourite in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock in January, although connections felt the run may have come too soon for the seven-year-old. Is a better horse than that performance showed but is short of what is needed here.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 40-1

22 1/442-214 SUBLIMITY (FR) 9 11-10
Robbie Hennessy IRE Phillip Carberry
Despite a poor showing in the Irish Champion Hurdle, he remains capable of a solid run at Cheltenham. Will need to be at his best to place here.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 18-1

23 1231-42 WON IN THE DARK (IRE) 5 11-10
Sabrina Harty IRE Davy Russell
Impressed last year as a juvenile and stayed well on his last outing before Cheltenham when second behind Sublimity in December. Perhaps this year is 12 months too early but certainly one to watch
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 33-1

24 312112- WHITEOAK (IRE) 6 11-10
Donald McCain Jnr Jason Maguire
Was superb on her comeback as she finished second behind Ashkazar at Wincanton on Valentine's Day and is a class act. Could trouble the front runners and should be considered a decent each-way bet.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 16-1

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