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Champion Hurdle
19 Dec 2011: Diamond Harry Tackles 2011 King George VI Chase
14 Nov 2011: Amateur Jockey Steals The Show At Cheltenham
17 Mar 2011: 2011 Cheltenham World Hurdle Preview
15 Mar 2011: 2011 Champion Hurdle Betting Odds
22 Mar 2010: Riding To Glory – Cheltenham’s Top Jockeys
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 Hurdle race hosted annually in March during the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. The race features eight hurdles over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards; it is open to horses aged four years and over.
Currently sponsored by the Smurfit Kappa Group, the Champion Hurdle is considered the most prestigious Hurdling event of the UK jump season. It awards a solid purse of £370,000 to the winner, this fixture attracts the finest jump horses of the season without fail. A number of legendary horses have competed successfully in the Champion Hurdle:
Istabraq, Night Nurse, Brown Jack and Sea Pidgeon are amongst the equine athletes to permanently secure their place in racing's history books with their performances in this event.
The Champion Hurdle was inaugurated in 1927 and was immediately classed as one of the most desirable races for champion jumpers. Since 2007 the Champion Hurdle is part of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown, serving as the final race and grand finale of this great jump racing series. The Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Christmas Hurdle precede the Champion Hurdle as the first and second leg of the Hurdling Triple Crown.
Human legends of the Champion Hurdle include trainers Nicky Henderson and Peter Easterby, who both trained five winners of the event throughout their stellar careers. The title of most successful Champion Hurdle Jockey is currently held by Tim Moloney, who rode four winners between 1951 and 1954; three of these wins were recorded on champion jumping horse Sir Ken.
Recent Winners of the Champion Hurdle:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
2010 |
Binocular |
6 |
Tony McCoy |
Nicky Henderson |
2009 |
Punjabi |
6 |
Barry Geraghty |
Nicky Henderson |
2008 |
Katchit |
5 |
Robert Thornton |
Alan King |
2007 |
Sublimity |
7 |
Philip Carberry |
John Carr |
2006 |
Brave Inca |
8 |
Tony McCoy |
Colm Murphy |
2005 |
Hardy Eustace |
8 |
Conor O'Dwyer |
Dessie Hughes |
Champion Hurdle Odds and News
15 Mar 2011: 2011 Champion Hurdle Betting Odds
The 2011 Cheltenham festival is upon us once again, with the opening day to be headlined by the Grade One Stan James Champion Hurdle to be run over two miles and 110 yards.
Join 
Bet365 to bet on the Stan James Champion Hurdle and guarantee yourself the best odds for the 2011 Cheltenham festival.
The 2011 edition of the Champion Hurdle sees a field of 11 top quality hurdlers go around in what is the final leg of the 
Stan James Road to Cheltenham.
2010 champion Binocular has been ruled out of the race after it was revealed that a drug used to cure a skin condition did not leave its system in time, and he would have been at risk of returning a positive swab.
We are left with an eleven horse field to contest the Grade One classic which kicks off the Cheltenham carnival of racing.
Three horses stand out in the betting with Menorah (10/3), Hurricane Fly (7/2) and the undefeated Peddlers Cross (4/1) dominating the market.
The Philip Hobbs trained Menorah is a slight favourite for the 2011 champion hurdle. Menorah has won 6 of 9 starts and finished second in its other three starts. As a three time winner over the course and distance the team has every right to be confident.
Hurricane Fly will race outside of Ireland for the first time in a bid to make it five straight wins. Going to Cheltenham for the first time is a concern, however winning form is good form and he has won 7 of 8 at this journey.
Peddlers Cross puts its undefeated streak on the line in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. Winner of the grade one Fighting Fifth last year, Peddlers Cross maintained its perfect record by winning at Kelso by 11 lengths on February 17.
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Of the other runners Dunguib and Oscar Whiskey have attracted some support, both ranking as 8/1 chances. Dunguib was a first up winner over 2 miles, however it is hard to see it turning the tables on Hurricane Fly, who finished 15 lengths ahead of Dunguib the last time the two met.
After having ante-post favourite Binocular scratched Nicky Henderson will saddle up Oscar Whiskey. Oscar Whiskey is the winner of six from seven career starts and could represent value as his only career start in a grade one saw him finish four lengths behind Menorah in last year’s Grade one Supreme novice hurdle over the Champion hurdle track and distance.
The other runners are quoted at double figure odds, with last year’s runner-up, Khyber Kim listed as an 11/1 outsider. After starting in the Christmas hurdle as a 5/2 shot, punters have shied away from the Nigel Twiston Davis trained horse as he finished some 13 lengths back at his previous start.
The other runners are Millie Chief (16/1), Thousand Stars (20/1), Overturn (40/1), Clerks Choice (50/1) and Bygones of Bird is rated a 250/1 chance. It is hard to see these runners overcoming their more fancied rivals, however there is no such thing as a sure thing on a race track.
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15 Mar 2011: Cheltenham Festival 2011
28 Jul 2010: Top 10 Horse Racing Moments Of All Time
17 Mar 2010: Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle – Distance: 2 miles, 110 yards – Winning Time: 3:53.9
