Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle
Limited Handicap | Grade 2 | GBB Race | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £56,270 - 15 ran
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd or 4th, closed 6th, led 2 out, hard pressed flat, stayed on well, holding 2nd close home
held up in rear, headway 2 out, went 2nd when not much room and switched left flat, soon disputing lead and hung left, held close home
in touch in mid-division, effort 3 out, every chance last, 3rd and held when edged right towards finish
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, held flat, kept on, not much room and carried right towards finish
held up rear of mid-division, closed before 4th, ridden after 2 out, pressing leaders flat, hard ridden and held flat, kept on, carried right towards finish
chased leader, led 3rd, not fluent 5th, headed 2 out, weakened final 75 yards
held up in rear, effort and switched left 2 out, no impression, well held last
mid-division, well in touch from 4th, unable to quicken before last, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, ridden and wandered into 2 out when on outside, never involved
led until 3rd, not fluent 5th, no extra 2 out
held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, well held next
in touch in mid-division, lost place before 2 out
always towards rear, outpaced and no impression 3 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, well beaten from 5th
held up in rear, fell 2nd
Once one of the great hurdle races of the Racing Calendar but just a useful handicap, if often a highly competitive one at that, nowadays. It looked as if it might be cut-throat beforehand, but in the event the early dash settled mid-race with the result that the finish was quite quick (winner’s final 4f of 55.33s, 105.9% finishing speed) on ground that was more like “good to soft” than the softer official. The majority of the field were in with a chance going to 2 out.
FAVOUR AND FORTUNE (h140 here and previously) had been left on a winnable mark despite a good sixth to Slade Steel at Cheltenham and capitalised, if only just, impressing with how he travelled in mid-field on the inner, taking closer order at the end of the back straight and going on 2 out, edging right but finding enough for pressure. He should remain competitive in races of this nature in the shorter-term.
BIALYSTOK (h140 here and previously) ran well but showed his quirky side again, coming from some way back to throw down a challenge on the run-in, briefly checked then veering left and losing his winning chance.
CRACKING RHAPSODY (h129 here, 128 previously) ran just about his best race yet off a much higher mark than for his wins, tracking the pace before improving between the last 2, just unable to raise his game further.
AFADIL (h130 here and previously) continues to prove ultra-consistent, having every chance.
L’EAU DU SUD (h138 here, 140 previously) was close to form off a higher mark than when second at Cheltenham but might have fared better committed sooner, travelling comfortably before shaken up 2 out, soon ridden and just staying on.
RUBAUD (h145 here, 148 previously) could not repeat the previous year’s win but made a bold bid under top weight for a long way, leading from the third until 2 out then no extra.
PETIT TONNERRE (h127 here, 136? previously)
FLORIDA DREAMS (h122 here and previously)
WESTPORT COVE (h131 here, 138 previously)
EFFERNOCK FIZZ (h120 here, 132 previously)
GINGER MAIL (h116 here, 127 previously)
SALSADA (h105 here, 117 previously)
BENSON (h104 here, 139? previously)
FIRST STREET (h107 here, 141 previously)
ALVANIY (h0 here, 117 previously)
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Good | 10 | Rubaud | 5 | 10 11 | 135 | 8-11201 | 56 days | P F Nicholls (403 miles) | Harry Cobden | 7/ 2 | 3:43.04 | |
| 2022 | Good to Soft | 8 | Anna Bunina | 6 | 10 4 | 130 | 482-543 | 56 days | J C McConnell | Sean Bowen | 6/ 1 | 3:47.07 | |
| 2021 | Good | 9 | Milkwood | 7 | 11 6 | 142 | 2-14303 | 30 days | N P Mulholland (405 miles) | Sam Twiston-Davies | 3/ 1 | 3:43.80 | |
| 2019 | Good | 14 | Verdana Blue | 7 | 11 10 | 154 | 1421-25 | 32 days | N J Henderson (358 miles) | Connor Brace | 4/ 1 | 3:39.20 | |
| 2018 | Good | 16 | Midnight Shadow | 5 | 10 4 | 134 | 1222U7 | 8 days | Mrs S J Smith (187 miles) | Danny Cook | 25/ 1 | 3:41.90 | |
| 2017 | Good to Soft | 16 | Chesterfield | 7 | 10 12 | 143 | 1F-8021 | 14 days | J W Mullins (396 miles) | Daniel Sansom | 12/ 1 | 3:43.50 | |
| 2016 | Good to Soft | 13 | Ch'tibello | 5 | 11 1 | 135 | 51-223 | 142 days | D Skelton (300 miles) | Harry Skelton | 8/ 1 | 3:51.39 | |
| 2015 | Good | 14 | Cheltenian | 9 | 10 13 | 146 | P4-3328 | 36 days | P Hobbs & J White (365 miles) | Richard Johnson | 10/ 1 | 3:39.51 | |
| 2014 | Good to Soft | 11 | Cockney Sparrow | 5 | 10 4 | 148 | 2112F5 | 32 days | J & S Quinn (212 miles) | Dean Pratt | 12/ 1 | 3:50.15 | |
| 2013 | Good | 8 | Court Minstrel | 6 | 10 12 | 141 | 14-1341 | 20 days | Evan Williams (397 miles) | Adam Wedge | 4/ 1 | 3:45.20 | |
| 2012 | Good | 10 | Raya Star | 6 | 11 6 | 143 | 213130 | 36 days | A King (379 miles) | R Thornton | 15/ 2 | 3:38.10 | |
| 2011 | Good | 9 | Sanctuaire | 5 | 10 8 | 144 | 113-F37 | 86 days | P F Nicholls (403 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 9/ 2 | 3:37.60 | |
| 2010 | Good | 12 | Overturn | 6 | 10 7 | 130 | 443211 | 23 days | D McCain Jnr (196 miles) | Timmy Murphy | 4/ 1 | 3:42.66 | |
| 2009 | Good | 14 | Noble Alan | 6 | 10 5 | 139 | 421-120 | 119 days | N G Richards (116 miles) | D Condon | 17/ 2 | 3:36.80 | |
| 2008 | Good | 16 | Border Castle | 7 | 10 4 | 140 | 5-06201 | 26 days | A B Haynes (391 miles) | Nick Scholfield | 40/ 1 | 3:34.40 | |
| 2007 | Good to Firm | 8 | Emmpat | 9 | 10 7 | 133 | 046101 | 11 days | C F Swan | D J Casey | 10/ 3 | 3:43.20 | |
| 2006 | Good | 9 | Noble Request | 5 | 10 9 | 143 | 5-77122 | 14 days | P Hobbs & J White (365 miles) | Richard Johnson | 7/ 2 | 3:47.10 | |
| 2005 | Good | 13 | Genghis | 6 | 10 11 | 137 | 266111 | 7 days | P Bowen (444 miles) | A P McCoy | 5/ 2 | 3:38.70 | |
| 2004 | Good to Soft | 12 | Copeland | 9 | 10 4 | 141 | 2-34030 | 16 days | M Pipe (377 miles) | Jamie Moore | 8/ 1 | 3:43.40 |
