Scottish Champion Hurdle 2011

Ayr 2.50

Isle Of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £28,505

Pick: Mille Chief (win)

Overturn: Has made giant strides both on the flat and over hurdles since bolting up in this race last year, winning Northumberland Plate and then Galway Hurdle with ease; Career best second in Christmas Hurdle would give him chance but has a couple of below par efforts to respond.

Mille Chief: Was the Triumph Hurdle favourite before injury ruled him out for the season and has taken big steps forward with every single run this season, bumping into handicap blot in Agean Dawn before romping home under top weight in strong Sandown Handicap; Proved he was up to Graded class when winning Kingwell hurdle but had to work very hard to beat Celestial Halo getting weight and may not have won but for fortunate error; Not up to the Champion Hurdle but has a better chance here if over his race.

Nearby: Has made huge strides in handicap hurdles this season, round off an impressive hat-trick with excellent win in the Elite Hurdle, coming clear of some useful types; Disappointing in Fighting Fifth Hurdle but respectable efforts the last twice, although not fancied having run just 7 days ago.

Bygones Of Brid: Impressed as a novice hurdler in Scotland, relishing soft ground conditions when slamming Softly Spoken Guy by 9 lengths in Grade 2 at Kelso; Posted good effort in rescheduled Fighting Fifth but looked well below best on all starts since and has a lot to do here.

Sanctuaire: Promising young French horse who made his British debut in a Taunton novice hurdle winning with a degree of comfort; Nothing compared to what he did next, romping home in the Fred Winter; Slightly disappointing when stepped up into Grade 1 company, pulling too hard for own good (travelled like winner but emptied in home straight);Was making some eye-catching headway in Greatwood Hurdle before falling, and shouldn’t be judged on his third place second time out (race was run at a crawl);Well beaten in ordinary race however, and has a lot to answer; However, if back to best, major player.

Hunterview: Front runner who won similar race really impressively here last year but seems to suffer for that in big handicaps, having being unplaced in three of his last six starts; Not fancied here despite low weight.

Cockney Trucker: Only beaten two lengths behind two very high class handicappers in Final Approach & Get Me Out Of Here in the County Hurdle; Enthusiasm dampened by defeat subsequently but still holds plenty of potential off this mark.

Via Gailel: Progressive horse, also notably strong traveller; Has been a revelation in handicap hurdles this season, hacking all over his field at Newbury before travelling like the winner in Imperial Cup (second); Not quite case at Aintree and most likely over the top by now.

Apartman: Once good enough to beat Giorgio Quercus by 15 lengths at this very meeting; makes his first start for former trainer George Charlton after he recently re-purchased the six-year-old (presumably injured).

VERDICT: Plenty have big question marks over them, not least last year’s winner and topweight Overturn. MILLE CHIEF is the selection on the basis that he looked like he still had more to give when winning the Kingwell two starts ago and he’s taken to beat Cockney Trucker and Via Galilei.