RACING anorak Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) analyses the field for the Day 1 highlight from the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, the Champion Hurdle.
Champion Hurdle | Tuesday 16th March 2021, 3:40 | ITV1
The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of the day and this looks a strong renewal and a really competitive race. The mares allowance is once again a bone of contention and I expect it to prove a factor once again.
Honeysuckle has improved with every visit to the track and this unbeaten mare is the one to beat here. A previous Festival winner in the Mares race she put up her most impressive victory last time out hacking up in the Irish Champion Hurdle. She will stay every yard of the trip and in a race that looks full of pace I suspect she will prove too strong here.
I like Abacadabras to follow her home again. He was a good second in the Supreme last year and this has been his target all year. He will like the ground and travel smoothly throughout and is an each-way play and could follow her home in second
Best Bets
3:40 Champion Hurdle – Abacadabras each-way (8/1 Bet365)
