Goes well in the mud and would not have to improve much to run into a place.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl129mmmmmmmmll17 11-113 MARELLO (38) (D) 7yo 11st 9lb P NivenOwner: Mr & Mrs W J Williams Trainer: Mrs M ReveleyForm: Was 63/4l third to Master Beveled in Agfa Hurdle at Sandown (2m110yds, good to soft). Earlier beat Shooting Light (8lb worse) by 1/2l in Tote Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow (2m4f110yds, good to soft).Summary: Good, tough, mare who stays well and want 21/2m-plus. Previously 10l fourth to Relkeel (4lb worse), 8l behind Pridwell (4lb better) in Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m1f, good)Summary: Decent staying hurdler who needs at least 21/2m to show his best and really is not up to championship standard at any distance Well beaten in most recent starts. No chance.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel8nRatingl122mmmmmmmmll15 250611 THEATREWORLD (24) (D) 6yo 12st T P TreacyOwner: Mrs J Magnier Trainer: A P O’Brien (Irl)Form: Beat Noble Thyne 1/2l in Grade Three Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran park (2m, good to soft) after beating Cockney Lad by 1l in the Red Bog Hurdle at Navan (2m2f, heavy).Summary: Second in last year’s Champion Hurdle, but this looks a tougher renewal and mostly disappointing this term although signs of a return to form in recent races. Best form on fast ground, however, and the mud may do for him this afternoon.llmmmmmmmmGoingl8nDistancel4nRatingl130mmmmmmmmll14 13-240 SHOOTING LIGHT (31) (CD) 5yo 12st R FarrantOwner: J M Brown Trainer: P MurphyForm: Weakened two out when 211/2 lengths ninth to Sharpical in Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury (2m110yds, good). Capable of running well in the strongly-run contest this promises to be, but needs to improve a bit to hold more than an each-way chance.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl128mmmmmmmmll13 111-22 SHADOW LEADER (38) (CD) 7yo 12st N WilliamsonOwner: J Blackshaw Trainer: C EgertonForm: 6l second to Master Beveled in Agfa Hurdle at Sandown (2m110yds, good to soft) after 3/4l second to Kerawi with Sanmartino 4l away third and I’m Supposin 12l away fourth in Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (2m, soft).Summary: Won Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2m110yds) impressively here last year and not disgraced in slowly run races this season.

Impressive on reappearance but looked wrong when beaten out of sight last time out. Capable of getting into the shake-up if everything goes his way, but remains a risky proposition.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl127mmmmmmmmll12 -11134 SANMARTINO (38) (D)) 6yo 12st R JohnsonOwner: Khalid Abdullah Trainer: D NicholsonForm: One-paced 7 lengths fourth to Master Beveled, 1 length behind Shadow Leader (1lb better) a short-head behind Marello and 2 lengths ahead of I’m Supposin (4lb worse) in Agfa Hurdle at Sandown (2m110yds, good to soft).Summary: Smart hurdler who has been ill-suited by the slow early pace in recent races. Trainer: D NicholsonForm: Trailed in 41l fourth to Dato Star (7lb worse) in Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock (2m, soft) after beating Pridwell (8lb better) by comfortable 13/4l in Grade Two Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m1f, good).Summary: Talented but plagued by injury problems. Won in good style last time though and, if he can pull out a bit more improvement, might reward each-way support.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel?nRatingl130mmmmmmmmll11 1/2-14 RELKEEL (52) (CD) 9yo 12st A MaguireOwner: Trustees of late C B Harvey. Previously 4l third to Nipper Reed, 1/2l behind Cadougold (2lb better) with Mistinguett (5lb better) 43/4l back fifth at Ascot (2m110yds, soft).Summary: Progressive sort who loves the mud but stays 21/2m and might be suited by more of a test of stamina. He will get that here and, if in the mood, could stay on to reach the frame.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel?nRatingl133mmmmmmmmll10 12-131 RED BLAZER (17) (D) 7yo 12st J CullottyOwner: Miss H Knight Trainer: Miss H KnightForm: Had Bellator 81/2l behind when winning Select Hurdle at Haydock (2m, good to soft). Useful performer, but unlikely to be good enough to make much of an impact here.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl125mmmmmmmmll9 -11122 PRIDWELL (87) (CD) (BF) 8yo 12st A P McCoyOwner: Jones, Berstock & Fleet partnership.

Trainer: M PipeForm: Finished 19 lengths second to Paddy’s Return in Grade One Long Walk Hurdle (3m1f110yds, good to soft). Previously 13/4 lengths second to Relkeel (8lb worse) in Grade Two Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m1f, good).Summary: Mulish but talented performer who has plenty of stamina and needs a really strong-run race at this distance in order to be effective. Unbeaten but not entirely convincing at around 2m this term and, at the odds, might be worth opposing .llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel?nRatingl134mmmmmmmmll8 -23612 KERAWI (31) (D) 5yo 12st C LlewellynOwner: M Archer & Jean Broadhurst Trainer: N Twiston-DaviesForm: 3l second to Sharpical in Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury (2m110yds, good) with Bellator (8lb worse) beaten 111/2 lengths, Commanche Court 141/2 lengths, Shooting Light (2lb better) 181/2l, and Graphic Equaliser (11lb better) 26l.Summary: Enterprisingly ridden when winning Christmas Hurdle, but ran solid race when second in Tote Gold Trophy. Previously beat Punting Pete by 21/2l in December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, heavy).Summary: Smart hurdler who won 1997 Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle (2m5f). Promising sort, but has yet to show the top class form that would give him a realistic chance in this company.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl121mmmmmmmmll6 -23451 I’M SUPPOSIN (19) (D) 6yo 12st R DunwoodyOwner: Nicholas Cooper Trainer: R RoweForm: Always prominent and led three out when beating Master Beveled most impressively by an easy 20l in Grade Two Axminster 100 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton (2m, good to firm).Summary: Improved out of all recognition when bolting in on fast ground in a decent race at Wincanton but will not get that surface here and that could be his undoing.llmmmmmmmmGoingl8nDistancel4nRatingl139mmmmmmmmll7 1-1111 ISTABRAQ (51) (C) (D) 6yo 12st C F SwanOwner: J P McManus Trainer: A P O’Brien (Irl)Form: Led two out when beating His Song 11/2l with Theatreworld 35l back in sixth in Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, soft). Previously beat Commanche Court by a length in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, good to soft).Summary: Tenderly handled when well-beaten last time having impressed on his reappearance. Needs to reveal substantial further improvement to make his presence felt here.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl115mmmmmmmmll5 021-10 GRIMES (101) (D) (BF) 5yo 12st C O’DwyerOwner: J P McManus Trainer: C Roche (Irl)Form: Was 231/4 lengths ninth to Major Jamie in William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown (2m110yds, good to soft).

Looks an each-way banker.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl132mmmmmmmmll4 35-010 GRAPHIC EQUALISER (31) (D) (BF) 6yo 12st P CarberryOwner: BRASK syndicate Trainer: A L T Moore (Irl)Form: 29l 12th to Sharpical in Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury (2m110yds, good) after beating Lady Daisy (28lb better) 5l into third with Theatreworld (28lb better) 32l back in 18th in Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, good to soft)Summary: Impressed in Ladbroke but ran dismally next time and faces a much tougher task in this company. Holds an each-way chance.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel?nRatingl129mmmmmmmmll3 1F/32-1 DATO STAR (52) (D) 7yo 12st E CallaghanOwner: K Riley, M Guthrie & J Donald Trainer: J M JeffersonForm: Led third, soon well clear and eased closing stages when beating Collier Bay most impressively by 20l, with Relkeel (7lb better off now) beaten 41l into fourth, in Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock (2m, soft).Summary: Smart hurdler with speed and stamina at this distance who, with the going likely to be in his favour, is entitled to go very close. Needs to improve out of all recognition to hold any chance here.llmmmmmmmmGoingl4nDistancel4nRatingl105mmmmmmmmll2 141-22 CADOUGOLD (FR) (59) (D) 7yo 12st M A FitzgeraldOwner: D A Johnson Trainer: M PipeForm: Finished 21/2 l second to Nipper Reed with Red Blazer (2lb worse) 1/2l third in Teal And Green Handicap Hurdle at Ascot (2m110yds, soft) after 4l second to Mr Percy in Murphy’s Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m110yds, good).Summary: Smart handicapper who has run well on both starts this season but shapes as if he might be suited by a longer distance than this. The tall horse has received considerable buffing since then and comes into the contest on a seasonal high.In what may well be an exceedingly fast championship, the best Flat horse may now have the tools to become the best hurdling horse of them all. I’M SUPPOSIN (nap 3.15) is already a Derby winner, having won the Ulster Harp version at Down Royal. In addition, he was beaten only seven lengths in Winged Love’s 1995 Irish Derby, when he finished in front of a horse called Celtic Swing Many more Celts are about to be frustrated this afternoon.. 3.15

CHAMPION HURDLE (CLASS A) (Grade 1)mpounds 200,000 added 2m 110yds Penalty value pounds 116,000l
1 11-0604 BELLATOR (17) 5yo 12st B FentonOwner: P Richardson Trainer: G BaldingForm: Weakened to finish 81/2 lengths fourth to Red Blazer in Select Hurdle at Haydock (2m, good to soft) after fading to be 141/2 lengths seventh to Sharpical in Tote Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Newbury (2m110yds, good).Summary: Unbeaten in two runs as a juvenile hurdler but somewhat disappointing in handicaps this term.

Richard Rowe’s expensive purchase was beginning to look, and run, like a white elephant this season after four straight defeats. Then, however, came a spanking demolition of some decent rivals at Wincanton, where the six-year-old was afforded a decent pace for the first time this campaign.”It was nice to see him run to the line that day and, more than that, go three furlongs after it,” Rowe says. “Richard [Dunwoody] said he had a problem pulling him up, and it was nice to see him smiling because he doesn’t do that very often.”If people want to crab that form it’s up to them and I’m happy for them to back something else if they want to. I would say my horse has definitely come on for the run, because that’s the first time he’s seen a race out.”I’m Supposin certainly did that in this race 12 months ago when, on only his third start over timber, he finished fourth to Make A Stand.