Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle
2m ½f, Cheltenham, Tuesday 16 March, 1520 GMT
Number, form, name, age, weight, trainer, jockey.
Odds are a guide for information purposes only.

By Frank Keogh

VERDICT: Tough race to predict as at least six horses have decent claims on best form, but MEDERMIT was unlucky not to win at Cheltenham last year and appears to be on the upgrade. Punjabi's Champion Hurdle record and the form of Go Native put them right in the mix too.

Pinstickers' choice: 1 Medermit 2 Punjabi 3 Go Native

Race preview

1 3-531 BINOCULAR 6 11-10
Nicky Henderson Tony McCoy
Was ante-post favourite after finishing third in 2009. Initially ruled out of the race with a muscle problem, but has made surprise recovery. Owned by Irish millionaire JP McManus who also had three-time winner Istabraq.
Odds: 8-1 Rating: 8/10

2 0-124 CELESTIAL HALO 6 11-10
Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
Excellent Cheltenham Festival record. Won the Triumph Hurdle in 2008 before a close runner-up in the Champion Hurdle a year later. Powerful stable quietly confident, but only fourth on most recent run.
Odds: 9-1 Rating: 7/10

3 41211 GO NATIVE 7 11-10
Noel Meade Paul Carberry
Arguably the form horse of the race, the course and distance winner has seen off several of these rivals already this season. Will land £1m bonus if wins to seal big-race treble. May need to be produced late, and may not get the chance.
Odds: 7-2 Rating: 8/10

4 11232 JUMBO RIO 5 11-10
Edward O'Grady Andrew McNamara
Best form has tended to come on softer ground. Beaten fair and square by Solwhit in December. O'Grady has saddled more Festival winners than any Irishman still training, but this is unlikely to be another.
Odds: 100-1 Rating: 6/10

5 0-511 KHYBER KIM 8 11-10
Nigel Twiston-Davies Paddy Brennan
Possibly the most under-rated contender based on two formidable wins this season, including a defeat of Celestial Halo, Medermit and Punjabi, but could be argued they were all below par that day.
Odds: 15-2 Rating: 8/10

6 5-331 MEDERMIT 6 11-10
Alan King Robert Thornton
Unlucky when beaten by a neck by Go Native in the 2009 Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, and showed his well-being when seeing off Punjabi at Haydock. Jockey/trainer combination won 2008 Champion Hurdle with Katchit.
Odds: 8-1 Rating: 9/10

7-2421 PUNJABI 7 11-10
Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
Won last year at odds of 22-1, a year after finishing second. Slightly lacklustre start to this campaign but better in the spring and nice confidence-boosting victory a couple of weeks ago.
Odds: 8-1 Rating: 8/10

8 0-010 RAISE YOUR HEART 7 11-10
Joanna Morgan Joe Cullen
An encouraging win at Cork last summer was followed by a disappointing run in 15th behind Khyber Kim at Cheltenham in November. Do not expect Raise Your Heart to raise the roof at Cheltenham.
Odds: 200-1 Rating: 5/10

9 11311 SOLWHIT 6 11-10
Charles Byrnes Davy Russell
Five-time Grade One winner who represents another solid chance for Irish punters. Pre-race injury scare will have done little to cheer the nerves of ante-post backers.
Odds: 6-1 Rating: 8/10

10 3-122 STARLUCK 5 11-10
Alan Fleming Timmy Murphy
Until a few years ago, horses aged five were considered too young to win this race. That theory has been blown apart and while the course and distance winner merits his place, he may be one for another year.
Odds: 12-1 Rating: 7/10

11 46511 WON IN THE DARK 6 11-10
Sabrina Harty Graham Lee
An interesting long shot. Well thought of at home. Thrives on good ground and in decent form recently. Could run well at a big price.
Odds: 66-1 Rating: 7/10

12 1-112 ZAYNAR 5 11-10
Nicky Henderson Andrew Tinkler
Talented, but stable jockey Barry Geraghty sticks with reigning champion Punjabi, and defeat when hot favourite last time out was not encouraging.
Odds: 8-1 Rating: 7/10

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