[WoodyTHFC]

Champion Hurdle: I do not believe this is a strong renewal imo. Sublimity won well last year but I am not totally convinced. They went far too fast and really set it up for Sublimity, the fact a staying on Afsoun could go onto finish third and not be a million miles away, imo does little for the form and of course the main hope, Detroit City really disappointed. Sublimity also is quite a frail horse and it might not be so easy as to even getting him there. Also I am slightly suspicious of horses who suddenly can find such huge improvement which he did and until he can maintain his form I remain unconvinced. Katchit has done nothing wrong however the five year old stat is a concern and even though he could run well in most of the year, he might be vulnerable on the day. So that leaves this race open and there are a few that maybe worth following. Macs Joy was third yesterday in an ok run on unfavoured ground and for a re appearance. If he could repeat his 2006 second to Brave Inca he will be bang in there. The question probably though is can he? A few relatively unexposed types such as Blythe Knight, Clopf, Aitmatov, De Valira, Silent Oscar despite different question marks could be 'surprise' packages. Clopf and De Valira interest me the most of these. Clopf travelled well for a long time yesterday and is extremely highly thought of by his trainer who does well at Cheltenham, it won a top novice in Ireland last year and yet probably was not at his best and De Valira has form over many horses last year such as Catch Me and even yesterdays impressive winner, Sizing Europe, it travelled ok at Cheltenham last year but probably underperformed when down the field and the trainers lack of form at the time could expalin that. Anyway, imo it is an open event this year.