This race is another recent addition to the Cheltenham Festival and made its debut in 2005. Many pundits and commentators were doubtful about the addition of a four year handicap hurdle at this meeting and some feel that it has taken something away from the main juvenile event – the Triumph Hurdle.

Putting that argument to one side for the moment it does or rather has given Cheltenham the chance to pay tribute to one of its favourite sons in Fred Winter who was not only one of the greatest jockeys of his era but went on to make an indelible mark on the training ranks also, winning most of the major races including two Grand Nationals and the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdles.

With a race as new as this it is always going to take a while to pin down the type of horse that is needed to win it but already it has become apparent unlike some of the other handicaps at the Festival that the winner is not tucked away down the bottom of the handicap. Five of the six winners – last year’s winner Sanctuaire included – have come from the top third of the weights. It would appear that the class acts in this handicap are capable of giving away the weight in this race and the Cheltenham racing betting will no doubt reflect this.

Once again it often pays to follow particular trainers in certain races at the Festival and it would appear that the David Pipe stable has developed a real penchant for this race – they won it in 2007 with Gaspara and since then have suffered three near misses with two seconds and a third in the race – last year’s second Grand Crus has looked a useful tool this year and with Festival experience he should be kept in mind for this year’s events at the Festival – he currently holds an entry in the World Hurdle having improved since his defeat last year and any Cheltenham 2011 bets placed on him could reap dividends.

What is noticeable about this race though is that the last five winners came here off the back of a win and clearly winning form will stand you in good stead in a race which commemorates a real winner – Fred Winter.

Trainer Alan Fleming is clearly a disappointed man after seeing his stable star Starluck finish a well beaten third behind reigning champion hurdler Binocular in the William Hill Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park, writes Elliot Slater. 

Last season the grey ran an absolute blinder to make the high-class Go Native pull out all the stops (Binocular back in third) in the Christmas Hurdle, eventually failing by only a short-head to land the Grade 1 event, but this time around, on ground that his handler feels was rather more testing than had been anticipated, the six-year-old was never travelling well enough to get into the race and make his presence felt. 

Fifth in last year’s Champion Hurdle (behind Binocular) and a good second on his reappearance in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury, where he gave the smart Peddlers Cross a good race, Starluck’s best form has regularly been on a decent surface so the glue-like conditions at the Sunbury track last time out would appear a valid excuse for a below-par effort and horse racing fans should remember this.

No firm plans appear to have been made just yet as to where owner Andrew Wates’ classy sort will go next, but he returned home from his Kempton effort in decent shape, ate up and appears none the worse for the outing. Starluck’s Champion Hurdle odds doubled after his defeat and he is now available at up to 50/1 in the horse racing betting odds to improve on last year’s performance, but it has to be assumed that he would be an unlikely runner at Cheltenham if there was plenty of cut in the ground. In any case, it would not surprise in the slightest to hear that Fleming might prefer to keep him fresh and wait until Aintree where underfoot conditions are invariably more suitable for the Key of Luck gelding.

The mighty Denman, a horse with a huge fan club who has endeared himself to the racing public for a number of seasons, is back in full training and beginning his build-up to what is likely to be his last attempt to win the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup for a second time, writes Elliot Slater.

The 11-year-old gelding, winner of the 2008 renewal when beating the awesome Kauto Star by seven lengths, finished second to his stable companion 12 months later and occupied the same position last year when putting in another sterling effort, but found the new kid on the block, Imperial Commander, too good for him.

Despite advancing years, Denman continues to produce top-class performances, and the winner of 14 of his 22 career starts and over £1 million in career prize money is still a serious force to be reckoned with and will not be going to Prestbury Park on March 18 just to make up the numbers or for old time’s sake and this is reflected in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting.

Despite the crushing burden of 11-12 Denman ran a terrific race on his seasonal reappearance when attempting to land the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury for the third time, but in the end found the concession of 26lbs to the smart Diamond Harry just too much, eventually finishing an honourable third. That run proved that Denman is still very close to his best ever form and Nicholls has decided not to attempt to have his horse ready to run in a prep race before Cheltenham, but this time to concentrate on having him 100% fit to run for his life on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham 2011 extravaganza.

A best-priced 8/1 third favourite behind Imperial Commander (4/1f) and Kauto star (5/1), Denman will remain a popular choice with his adoring legion of fans.

This year’s Stan James Champion Hurdle, the feature on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in mid-March, is shaping up to be one of the most wide open for years with a handful of worthy candidates all bidding to get their hooves on the trophy, writes Elliot Slater.

Bookies and those regularly placing a cheltenham bet are finding it hard to separate the three market leaders; last year’s winner Binocular, the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Menorah, and Irish star Hurricane Fly, all having the form in the book to warrant worthy consideration as a betting medium. Those that fancy Nicky Henderson’s Binocular to follow up his impressive win in the race last year will not have been unduly put off by his defeat to the smart Peddlers Cross in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury in November on his seasonal reappearance. He always needs a run or two to reach concert pitch and will be primed to peak at around ten past three on March 15.

Menorah has gone from strength-to-strength this term, giving masses of weight away but still winning the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle in tenacious fashion on his seasonal bow. Even better was his disposal of Cue Card and Silvanicio Conti in the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham, a win that confirmed him very much a front-runner in the race for this season’s championship.

 Ireland’s principal hope this term appears to be Hurricane Fly, already the winner of two Grade 1’s this term – at Fairyhouse and Punchestown – on both occasions proving too strong for his old rival, the smart Solwhit. With other contenders including the aforementioned Peddler’s Cross, last year’s Champion Hurdle runner-up Khyber Kim, the rapidly progressive Oscar Whisky, and the smart Starluck, this year’s Champion Hurdle promises to be truly a race to savour.