The Welsh Champion Hurdle has been moved to Chepstow this year, with 11 runners taking to the track on Sunday for the early-season handicap prize. Joe Napier previews a renewal packed with potential and gives his verdict.
Favourites
Sam Thomas trained the forecast at Ffos Las in this race 12 months ago and in the same colours, Celtic Dino won his first two races before finding Graded events in novice company too hot. However, a third placed effort to conclude the season in a 17-runner handicap at Aintree was a good way to sign out and though he returns here off a 5lb higher mark, he could easily progress further. His two wins came last autumn on good ground too.
Tutti Quanti is another second season hurdler towards the head of the market. He has two wins from five, both of those coming at Ffos Las, with his two runner-up efforts coming against some useful rivals. He was sixth in the Supreme at 125/1 back in March too, staying on past beaten horses, but holding his own. A mark of 132 could underestimate him given his most recent success came by 13 lengths over a rival rated 127.
Wilful is more experienced in racing terms, this being his third season as a hurdler. Three of his four hurdles victories have come with good in the going description, while he was flying to finish last season, winning at Ayr, then finishing second at the Punchestown Festival when sent over to Ireland. He has won after a gap of 100+ days and further progress from him is not ruled out.
Contenders
The mare Listentoyourheart won her first three races over timber before higher class contests began to find her out. Nevertheless, she was fourth in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Kelso before down the field at Aintree, so she is capable of a decent level of form. Two wins fresh, coupled with being the Skelton first string, make her of some interest.
Willy joins father Nigel Twiston-Davies on the license of their yard this year, and their autumnal form has been strong. Norman Fletcher is down to his last winning mark of 123 from Huntingdon last November, with the start of last season being where he showed his best form. He was also third off 129 in December at Doncaster. Suggesting he could be well-in here if back firing, while his sixth of 16 to conclude last season at Cheltenham was respectable being beaten only six lengths.
Meanwhile, Harry Derham could be in for a big season and Balhambar represents him here. He was largely consistent last term having impressed on his early starts for Derham, but would have to find a bit extra here from his current mark given he was only second in a weaker race at Stratford off 122 last time out.
Outsiders
No Ordinary Joe was useful if frustrating with Nicky Henderson, though may be best watched here on his first start for Faye Bramley having lost his form last term. He is also the oldes in the field, whereas Alexei and Scinitillante are the joint youngest at the age of five.
The former retains some appeal given how he began the previous campaign with two emphatic triumphs even though his form fell off from February despite little change in the ground. A mark of 127 is by no means impossible to defy though, while Scintillante went from strength to strength over the summer, albeit now faces serious National Hunt opposition where she may not have done as much at Worcester, her happiest hunting ground since May.
The last pair are Titan Discovery, running for the first time since winning over 3m at Windsor in January but taking up a drastically different type of race here off a career high mark, and the mare Tour Ovalie, progressive last season, but in at the deep end here off 119, with it being no guarantee that she will go best fresh.
Verdict
The allure of TUTTI QUANTI’s potential stands out the most, with Paul Nicholls sending out winners at a remarkable rate since April. He finished last season as though there was plenty more to come from him. Norman Fletcher is second choice with the Twiston-Davies yard also reliable on recent form and their charge is on a very plausible mark, while Celtic Dino and Alexei are two second season hurdlers who could have more to give too.
- Tutti Quanti
- Norman Fletcher
- Celtic Dino
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