March 7th, 2015 | 
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Cheltenham Festival – Champion Hurdle Preview
The racing on the Monday preceding any Cheltenham Festival inevitably has the feel of the ‘calm before the storm’ so, with all due respect to the authorities at Plumpton, Stratford and Taunton, we’ve decided to concentrate on events later in the week in today’s 2015 cheltenham tips piece.
The feature race on the first day is, of course, the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, for which Willie Mullins’ Faugheen is a red-hot 5/4 favourite. The Germany gelding is unbeaten in nine starts, including a point-to-point, and has only really been tested once, when ridden out to beat Ballyalton by 4½ lengths in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, over 2 miles 5 furlongs, at last year’s Festival. The 7-year-old gelding appears highly versatile, having won at distances up to 3 miles on going ranging from good to heavy, but may still have room for improvement in his jumping.
Faugheen faces by far his stiffest task to date against stable companion Hurricane Fly, Jezki and The New One, all of whom are rated of similar ability by the BHA Head of Handicapping, so if his jumping lacks fluency, as it has on more than one occasion in the past, he could be vulnerable.
Hurricane Fly, winner of the Champion Hurdle in 2011 and 2013 before a creditable fourth behind Jezski last year, has won three from three since returning to action at Punchestown in November, notably beating Jezki on all three occasions. His very best form has come on soft and heavy going, so he’d appreciate some rain but, as the joint highest-rated horse in the race, he’s not a bad ‘second string’ for the Mullins’ yard.
Unless the rain forecast for Cheltenham on Monday is heavier than forecast, The New One could be the one to take advantage of any jumping frailties that surface in the favourite. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 7-year-old could finish only third, beaten 2¾ lengths, behind Jezski last year, but was badly hampered by the fall of the ill-fated Our Conor at the third flight and can be rated better than the bare result. The King’s Theatre is unbeaten in five starts since, including the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle last April, and may be able to make amends this time.