The National Hunt season still has a few big races remaining, starting with the Scottish National meeting at Ayr this weekend. I’ll be previewing the National separately but the Scottish Champion Hurdle is also featured on the ante-post lists now that it is run as a handicap.
As something of a traditionalist, it seems a shame that both the Welsh and Scottish Champion Hurdle are now handicaps but it was inevitable. So much emphasis is put on Cheltenham these days that they were attracting only three or four runners. The policy seems to be working and there is a decent entry for this weekend’s Grade 2 event.
Surprisingly, Nicky Henderson has elected to run My Tent Or Yours. He ran very well at the festival but could not peg back Jezki in the closing stages. That was the second year running that he has found one to good following his narrow defeat in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year. It is worth remembering that My Tent Or Yours suffered a minor setback ahead of the Champion Hurdle so it could be significant that he is set to turn out here.
He has to concede upwards of 16lbs to his rivals but it is going to take a good one to lower his colours. There are two horses that stand out as possible dangers, Montbazon and Clever Cookie. Alan King has always held Montbazon in high regard but injury has limited his opportunities following a fine novice season. He was understandably a bit rusty on his debut in the Betfair Hurdle after a layoff of almost two years but ran a great race to be third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. My only concern with him is that he appeared to have quite a hard race there.
Clever Cookie has gone from strength to strength this season, winning his last three races in great style. They included the Scottish County Hurdle, although it has to be said that it was far removed from the Cheltenham variety. He then bolted up at Kelso in a Grade 2 race so is entitled to take on the likes of My Tent Or Yours in receipt of weight.
My old friend Flaxen Flare has been toiling away in the hottest handicaps all season and is another with a chance if he makes the trip over from Ireland. He doesn’t always find as much as you’d expect off the bridle but 18lbs looks a lot of weight to be getting from the favourite. My Tent Or Yours should make his class tell but he will need to be at his best.
My Tent Or Yours at 11-10 Paddy Power
