Momentum gathers for My Tent Or Yours’ Champion Hurdle case

My Tent or Yours is now the 4/1 second-favourite to land the Champion Hurdle at next year’s Cheltenham Festival following an impressive Grade 1 victory at Newcastle.

The six-year-old eased to a three-length win in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his seasonal reappearance prompting Ladbrokes to trim their odds on the Nicky Henderson-trained charge.

Only The New One now sits above My Tent or Yours in the ante-post Champion Hurdle market with onlookers speculating as to just how significant the former’s score in the north-east is in relation to his chances of securing a festival triumph.

Having narrowly lost out to Champagne Fever in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle when sent off as the 15/8 favourite there were perhaps concerns about the son of Desert Prince’s top level credentials.

But a subsequent 16-length slamming of his rivals in Aintree’s Top Novices’ Hurdle and this latest victory have reaffirmed the belief that he at least belongs among the hurdling elite, even if the most recent of his performances wasn’t wholly convincing to some.

Jockey AP McCoy told the Racing Post: “It was a good return but to be honest I would have been disappointed if he couldn’t have won like that if he’s going to be a Champion Hurdle horse.”

McCoy added: “Some of the bookmakers have cut him to favourite, which I think is an overreaction. He needs to improve, to progress, if he’s going to beat a horse like Hurricane Fly who has won 17 Grade 1s.”

Henderson is the renewal’s joint- leading saddler with five wins, the last of those delivered by Binocular in 2010.

The aforementioned Hurricane Fly has taken centre-stage since with two victories in the previous three runnings of the Champion Hurdle and arguably remains better value at 5/1.

Willie Mullins’ irrepressible nine-year-old is unbeaten in his last seven starts and will no doubt be difficult to shake off when racing’s finest return to Prestbury Park.

But a workmanlike outing when taking the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown has some questioning whether the talented crop of younger horses can take the Irish raider’s crown.

And with 3/1 Champion Hurdle favourite The New One and now My Tent or Yours both emerging as viable contenders there will be plenty willing to wager that a successful challenge can be mounted.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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