Hurricane Fly: will face a maximum of eight rivals on TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2013, at Cheltenham in the STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo+)

Hurricane Fly

Hurricane Fly: will face a maximum of eight rivals in the Champion Hurdle

 PICTURE: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Nine contenders left for Champion Hurdle prize

 BY DAVID BAXTER10:55AM 10 MAR 2013 

THE last three winners of the Stan James Champion Hurdle are set to do battle for the second year running, as a field of nine was declared on Sunday for Tuesday’s Championship race.

CheltenhamTUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2013, STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo+)

  • Winner: £227,800

    •  

  • Runners: 9

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  • Distance: 2m110y

    •  

  • Going: Soft

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  • Channel: CH4

£400,000 guaranteed For 4yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 5th. (Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 5th would merit a minimum rating of 130. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final) Weights 4yo 11st 2lb; 5yo+ 11st 10lb Allowances fillies and mares 7lb Entries 34 pay £ 500Confirmed 10 pay £ 500 Penalty value 1st £227,800.00 2nd £85,480.00 3rd £42,800.00 4th £21,320.005th £10,720.00 6th £5,360.00

NO. 
FORM		 HORSE

RPR
    1/41-3 1/41-3 1/41-3 1/41-3    1/41-3 1/41-3 1/41-3 1/41-3
631-111 Owner details HURRICANE FLY

—
 2 15/8 7/4 2 13/8   2 2 7/4 7/4
 
 
95F-111 Owner details ZARKANDAR

—
 7/2 7/2 7/2 7/2 7/2   7/2 7/2 7/2 7/2
 
 
8213-31 Owner details ROCK ON RUBY

—
 9/2 9/2 9/2 4 9/2   9/2 4 4 9/2
 
 
51F11-2 Owner details GRANDOUET

—
 8 7 7 6 8   8 7 8 8
 
 
22114-3 Owner details BINOCULAR

—
 9 8 8 8 7   8 9 8 9
 
 
3111-25 Owner details CINDERS AND ASHES

—
 11 11 10 10 10   11 — 11 10
 
 
412-142 Owner details COUNTRYWIDE FLAME

—
 16 14 14 14 16   14 14 14 14
 
 
71496/2 Owner details KHYBER KIM

—
 50 40 40 50 50   40 — 40 50
 
 
131083 Owner details BALDER SUCCES

—
 100 66 50 66 100   50 80 50 100
 
 

Last year’s winner Rock On Ruby, who will be sporting blinkers for the first time, takes on the vintage of 2011 and ante-post favourite Hurricane Fly, while 2010 winner Binocular will be the mount of AP McCoy.

Nicky Henderson is responsible for a third of the final declarations, as stablemates Khyber Kim and Grandouet will join Binocular, while Paul Nicholls relies on last year’s fifth Zarkandar.

Cinders And Ashes, Countrywide Flame and Balder Succes complete the field, while Cotton Mill, whose festival target is the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, was the only absentee.

 

fonte: RacingPost