(R4) 15:05 CHELTENHAM, 2M

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(R4) 15:05 CHELTENHAM, 2m 87y Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) No Silk Form Horse Details Age/Wt Jockey/Trainer OR 1 12-2152 ABACADABRAS (FR) 38 D 7 11 - 10t J W Kennedy 158 Mrs D Foster b g Davidoff - Cadoubelle Des As

2 11F2-12 ASPIRE TOWER (IRE) 77 D 5 11 - 10 R M Power 160 H de Bromhead b g Born To Sea - Red Planet

3 111U-01 GOSHEN (FR) 24 D 5 11 - 10 J E Moore 164 G L Moore b g Authorized - Hyde

4 121212 JAMES DU BERLAIS (FR) 121 5 11 - 10 D A Jacob 160 W P Mullins ch g Muhtathir - King's Daughter

5 110P-R1 NOT SO SLEEPY 87 D 9 11 - 10 J J Burke 149 H Morrison ch g Beat Hollow - Papillon de Bronze

6 31F/1- SALDIER (FR) 38 D 7 11 - 10p1 D E Mullins 156 W P Mullins 66 b g Soldier Hollow - Salve Evita

7 4162-13 SHARJAH (FR) 38 D 8 11 - 10t P Townend 164 W P Mullins b g Doctor Dino - Saaryeh

8 26-1C21 SILVER STREAK (IRE) 80 D 8 11 - 10 T J O'Brien 163 Evan Williams gr g Dark Angel - Happy Talk

9 9/111-12 EPATANTE (FR) 80 CD BF 7 11 - 3 Aidan Coleman 161 b m No Risk At All - Kadjara N J Henderson

10 1111-11 HONEYSUCKLE 38 C D 7 11 - 3 Rachael Blackmore 161 b m Sulamani - First Royal H de Bromhead

ATR VERDICT: Nicky Henderson and, even more so, J P McManus have made this race their own in recent years, with Epatante making it four wins in a row for the top owner (and three wins from the last four runnings for Henderson) 12 months ago. The seven-year-old made an impressive reappearance when winning the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and warrants respect as she bids to defend her crown, but she looked flat when turned over by Silver Streak in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle last time and can be taken on with the other mare in the field, HONEYSUCKLE, today. Whereas the former arrives under a bit of a cloud, Henry De Bromhead's charge produced a career- best performance when bolting up in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last time, a jaw- dropping effort that convinced connections to have a crack at this. She turned over the very smart Benie Des Dieux in last season's Mares' Hurdle, so that ticks the travelling and handling Cheltenham boxes, and is fancied to maintain her unbeaten record this afternoon, to make it 11 out of 11 under Rules. Tom O'Brien has picked up a nice spare ride on the aforementioned Silver Streak and he could run into a place.

Top Tip: HONEYSUCKLE (10) Watch out for: EPATANTE (9)