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Elgin on course for Champion Hurdle next week
07 March 2018
Having enjoyed his finest hour when winning the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month, Elgin has now been supplemented for the Grade 1 feature on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Our star hurdler has now won a Listed hurdle, the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle and the Kingwell Hurdle this season, but it was his performance in the latter race that persuaded Alan King that he should take aim at the big race. He gave weight and a beating to two higher rated horses, Call Me Lord and Ch'Tibello, who are also entered in the Champion.
Elgin never looked like being beaten at Wincanton, as Wayne Hutchinson took the race by the scruff of the neck and kicked on as he entered the home straight. The only flight of hurdles he knocked was the last flight, but it did not affect his momentum as he won by 2½ lengths. This was despite the soft ground, which Alan has always worried about for Elgin, as he feels he is a better horse on good ground.
We hope Elgin can make it to the big race in one piece and give the Club Members another incredible day to remember. The last winner the Club enjoyed at Cheltenham's theatre of dreams was Penzance, who won the 2005 Triumph Hurdle for Alan and Choc Thornton. Whilst we certainly don't expect Elgin to beat the mighty Buveur d'Air, he must have a solid each-way chance of giving his trainer another Champion Hurdle winner.
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