Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Cheltenham

15:30

Date 2024-03-12

Distance 2m87y

Class Class 1

Going Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £262,078

Winning Time 4m 13.88s (slow by 24.88s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	State Man (FR) Paul Townend · W P Mullins	2/5F	Won
2nd	Irish Point (FR) Jack Kennedy · Gordon Elliott	9/2	1.25
3rd	Luccia (GB) James Bowen · Nicky Henderson	33/1	2.25
4th	Zarak The Brave (FR) Daryl Jacob · W P Mullins	22/1	6
5th	Colonel Mustard (FR) J J Slevin · Mrs Lorna Fowler	50/1	1.5
6th	Nemean Lion (GER) Richard Patrick · Kerry Lee	12/1	6.5
7th	Not So Sleepy (GB) Sean Bowen · Hughie Morrison	33/1	37

Non-Runners / Other

Status	Horse	SP
P.U.	Iberico Lord (FR) Nico de Boinville · Nicky Henderson	11/1

Runners (8)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
6	State Man Chestnut J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	164	—	21-111	169	174	155	37d	—	—	-11	49.8	0.09/1	4/11 73%
Beat all bar Constitution Hill in this race last year; clear top on ratings this time
3	Irish Point Grey J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	164	—	411-11	159	164	112	75d	—	—	+17	31.3	1.13/1	9/2 18%
Classy and versatile; major contender, despite dropping back almost a mile in distance
2	Iberico Lord Bay J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	164	—	12-171	143	151	144	31d	—	—	+19	25	2.75/1	11/1 8%
Supplemented at a cost of £18,000; successful in two big handicaps and the form is strong
4	Nemean Lion Bay J:Richard Patrick T:Kerry Lee	J:Richard Patrick T:Kerry Lee	164	—	1-1521	151	154	140	24d	—	—	+28	33.9	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Progressive; has landed some notable prizes in the last 12 months; should perform well
7	Zarak The Brave Bay J:Daryl Jacob T:W P Mullins	J:Daryl Jacob T:W P Mullins	164	—	2-31P1	152	156	140	44d	—	—	+27	29.7	7.00/1	28/1 3%
Currently well short of stablemate State Man's standard but may still rate higher
5	Not So Sleepy Chestnut J:Sean Bowen T:Hughie Morrison	J:Sean Bowen T:Hughie Morrison	164	—	/355-1	158	164	117	94d	—	—	+35	37.6	8.25/1	33/1 3%
Beaten in this race for the last four years (form figures P555); best to look elsewhere
8	Luccia Chestnut J:James Bowen T:Nicky Henderson	J:James Bowen T:Nicky Henderson	157	—	43-231	140	153	144	80d	—	—	+21	23	10.00/1	40/1 2%
Useful and generally consistent mare; has frame possibilities, getting 7lb all round
1	Colonel Mustard Chestnut J:J J Slevin T:Mrs Lorna Fowler	J:J J Slevin T:Mrs Lorna Fowler	164	b	23-252	146	149	131	24d	—	—	+23	24.4	12.50/1	50/1 2%
Exposed 9yo who still has a modest strike-rate; needs help from the first-time blinkers

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Ladbrokes	Unibet	Boyle Sports
State Man	4/11	4/11	4/11	4/11	4/11
Irish Point	9/2	9/2	9/2	9/2	9/2
Iberico Lord	11/1	11/1	11/1	11/1	11/1
Nemean Lion	12/1	12/1	12/1	12/1	12/1
Zarak The Brave	28/1	28/1	28/1	28/1	28/1
Not So Sleepy	33/1	33/1	33/1	33/1	33/1
Luccia	40/1	40/1	40/1	40/1	40/1
Colonel Mustard	50/1	50/1	50/1	50/1	50/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

State Man

49.8

OR: 29.8 Form: 0 Odds: 20

4/11

2nd

Not So Sleepy

37.6

OR: 27 Form: 10 Odds: 0.6

33/1

3rd

Nemean Lion

33.9

OR: 25.3 Form: 7 Odds: 1.6

12/1

Irish Point

31.3

OR: 27.3 Form: 0 Odds: 4

9/2

Zarak The Brave

29.7

OR: 25.5 Form: 3.5 Odds: 0.7

28/1

Iberico Lord

OR: 23.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.7

11/1

Colonel Mustard

24.4

OR: 24 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

50/1

Luccia

OR: 22.5 Form: 0 Odds: 0.5

40/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
State Man	169	174	155
Irish Point	159	164	112
Not So Sleepy	158	164	117
Zarak The Brave	152	156	140
Nemean Lion	151	154	140
Colonel Mustard	146	149	131
Iberico Lord	143	151	144
Luccia	140	153	144

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Nemean Lion	24d ago	Fit
Colonel Mustard	24d ago	Fit
Iberico Lord	31d ago	Fit
State Man	37d ago	Fit
Zarak The Brave	44d ago	Fit
Irish Point	75d ago	Fresh
Luccia	80d ago	Fresh
Not So Sleepy	94d ago	Long break