Champagne Classic

26th-Apr-2017

Champagne Classic may not have got due recognition for winning the Martin Pipe Hurdle.  Martin Pipe Hurdle winners are often under-rated, and his reputation probably wasn’t helped when his owner said afterwards that he was probably the worst horse that he owned.

But there was a lot to like about the performance.  He travelled well, he made nice progress to hit the front at the second last flight, and he stayed on well from there.  He clocked a good time too, faster than Racing Post par, and he probably could have gone faster had he had company for longer.

Like Al Boum Photo, he has a lot to find on the principles on official ratings, he is a stone lower than Presenting Percy, but also like Willie Mullins’ horse, he has lots of potential for progression.  He seemed to improve markedly for the good ground at Cheltenham, and he will have similar conditions today.

He was beaten by Tin Soldier in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in January, but that was on very soft ground, and he could reverse placings today.  He goes well right-handed too, all his runs before Cheltenham were at right-handed tracks (his record going right reads 2123213) and he could out-perform odds of 20/1.

CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC WON (ADV 20/1, SP 14/1)