Christmas Hurdle Betting Tips, Preview & Odds – Epatante to build on Fighting Fifth Success

In the last 10 years, the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton has been dominated by Nicky Henderson and this is expected to continue, write Matt Chivers as he previews the 2020 renewal.

Henderson has trained seven of the last 10 winners of the Boxing Day fixture and Epatante is arguably the most exciting star in his current stable.

The mare has propelled herself to the top of the hurdling division, taking the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle more recently at Newcastle.

 

2020 Christmas Hurdle Odds

• Epatante – 1/4
• Silver Streak – 6/1
• Ballyandy – 16/1
• Floressa – 18/1
• Diego Du Charmil – 50/1

 

Excellent Epatante

Epatante will be defending her Christmas Hurdle title this year, she quickened up brilliantly to finish ahead of Silver Streak at Kempton last year in what has become a characteristic display.

Jockey Barry Geraghty waited patiently before telling her to go up the Cheltenham hill to sprint away from the field to win the Champion Hurdle in March too.

Although there were mumblings of a week field in this race, Henderson’s six-year-old won a competitive race with a host of horses looking for victory in the home straight.

Aidan Coleman delivered Epatante perfectly in the last 100 yards at Newcastle to win the Fighting Fifth in November to keep up the mare’s fine form.

Epatante’s progress into a top hurdler has arguably made this year’s Christmas Hurdle a foregone conclusion, however, there will be contenders looking to topple the queen of hurdling.

Watch: Epatante wins the 2020 Champion Hurdle.

 

From Silver to Gold?

Silver Streak was agonisingly beaten by Song For Someone in the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham, after a great ride from Adam Wedge.

If we consider course form, Silver Streak’s record at Kempton is 121. The seven-year-old had no luck when being carried out at the second flight at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth and was denied the chance to take on Epatante.

Silver Streak has beaten former Grade One scorers in Diego Du Charmil and notably Verdana Blue, who won the Christmas Hurdle in 2018 when upsetting Buveur D’air.

The Evan Williams-trained grey finished third in the Champion Hurdle in 2019 behind runaway winner Espoir D’allen.

Silver Streak is a tried and tested hurdler with a lot of mileage and a lot of ability. Williams has said that the horse looks great and they’ll be looking ‘to get some place money again’.

 

Cheltenham Festival 2021 Ante-post Tips

Epatante is currently the 6/4 favourite for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, an extremely short price that is justified.

If Epatante was to defend her Christmas Hurdle crown, it is unlikely that the odds would become shorter as the likes of Saint Roi and Abacadabras will be worthy contenders.

It may take a horse like Song For Someone to emerge from the contending pack over the festive period for Epatante’s odds to budge.

Silver Streak and Sceau Royal may have a limit to how well they can perform and this limit is well below the quality of Nicky Henderson’s stable superstar.

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