CHELTENHAM 15:30 2e3y4x

All 17 ran. Hurdles: 8.

Time: 4m 7.6s Closing Sectional: (4.1f): 59s (104.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 127%, Betfair SP 100.8%

The largest field for the Champion Hurdle since 23 went to post in 2009, though quantity wasn't matched with quality, most having best form which was some way short of the standard usually required, the bare form of Epatante's win, with the mares allowance, earning a rating from Timeform as low as any winner this century, though she was value for a bit more than the winning margin and the runner-up produced an effort marginally better than Sublimity and Hors La Loi III achieved in winning the race; there was quite a notable list of absentees that might have made an impact, including the first 2 in the Mares' Hurdle, last season's Champion Bumper winner Envoi Allen, the sidelined dual Champion Buveur d'Air, the very smart mare Verdana Blue, the Betfair Hurdle winner Pic d'Orhy and even the first 2 in the Supreme, not to mention the pick of a strong crop of juveniles, while the winner herself was a rumoured doubt for the race the previous week, reported to have coughed, Benie des Dieux, who would have needed to be supplemented, briefly an improbable favourite ante-post; for the third time on the afternoon, the race began from a standing start after the starter hadn't been happy with the field lining up, such an outcome entirely predictable and unsatisfactory, a review of starting procedures surely overdue, including the question of whether the starters themselves are contributing to the problem, the current system of the starters effectively marking their own homework, by deciding whether any riders were at fault, not allowing for that possibility.

EPATANTE (FR) looked the one to beat on her form in winning the Christmas Hurdle and justified strong in following up, coping well with more of a test of stamina than for either of her races earlier in the season, banishing ghosts from her poor performance when favourite for the Dawn Run in 2019; in touch, travelled well, not fluent 3 out, tracked pace home turn, jumped on last, ridden run-in, kept on well, won readily; she was a class better than an ordinary field, not required to improve much on what she did last time, though she clearly has more to offer, a clash with Envoi Allen at Punchestown, say, likely to challenge her more than this race did.

SHARJAH (FR) duly put his poor showing at Leopardstown last time behind him, making his move after the winner, but not a threat to her after he went second; dropped out, travelled well, good progress approaching last, went second run-in, ran on, no impression on winner.

DARVER STAR (IRE) reached a place at Grade 1 level for the third start running, progressing a bit further, though with no excuses; chased leaders, travelled well, led approaching last, headed there, not quicken; he's developed into a very smart hurdler, though he probably won't be easy to place to actually win at this level.

CILAOS EMERY (FR) had been supplemented for this after his win at Gowran and performed with credit in a much stronger race, though never looking much like winning; held up, travelled well, not fluent fifth and pushed along briefly, headway next, shaken up 2 out, ridden straight, kept on, never landed a blow; he'd looked a bright chasing prospect earlier in the winter and surely a return to fences will be on the agenda into the spring.

PETIT MOUCHOIR (FR) third in the 2017 Champion Hurdle, ran about as well as could be expected, behind the runner-up and the third on his last 2 starts after all; led, clear briefly fifth, headed before last, one paced.

SILVER STREAK (IRE) third in last season's running, ran to a similar sort of level, his jumping rather hindering his chance, though perhaps a place better was all he might have managed; held up, mistake third, headway when not fluent fifth, not fluent again next, ridden after, plugged on straight, never landed a blow.

SUPASUNDAE with a win in the 2017 Coral Cup and a second in the 2018 Stayers', couldn't enhance his Festival record, not finishing his race nearly so well as might have been expected; mid-division, pushed along 3 out, chased leaders straight, no extra last.

BALLYANDY wasn't disgraced, though couldn't add to a good Festival record, the form of his win last time and his effort in the International rather shown up in this, his third to the winner at Kempton the pick of his form this winter; handy, travelled well, not fluent 2 out, outpaced home turn.

PENTLAND HILLS (IRE) who'd had a breathing operation since Haydock, was easy to back on the day and failed to meet expectations, the form of his 2 runs this season taking a knock in this race anyway, though he wasn't subjected to a hard race once it was clear he wasn't going to get involved; held up, effort briefly 3 out, not knocked about, never on ; it's possible he may yet do better, though he now has questions to answer.

DARASSO (FR) was flying too high in this grade; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, effort after fifth, made little impression.

FUSIL RAFFLES (FR) disappointed for the second start running, having gone off t favourite with the winner at Kempton, perhaps just no substance to his form for this sort of task; raced off the pace, not settle fully, labouring after fifth.

GUMBALL (FR) was out of his depth; in touch, not settle fully, mistake fifth, weakened after next.

CALL ME LORD (FR) was well held, seeming unsettled by a mistake before halfway, the form of his win in the International hardly enhanced in this anyway; waited with, mistake fourth, labouring soon after.

LE PATRIOTE (FR) quickly back over hurdles, with blinkers replacing cheekpieces, was flying too high in this grade, though the way he moved into the race down the hill promised quite a bit more than he finally delivered, whether his attitude will allow him to capitalise on it in a more realistic race open to doubt; slowly into stride, held up, travelled well, good progress 3 out, ridden after next, soon done with, looked half-hearted.

COEUR SUBLIME (IRE) who'd had a breathing operation since running below form at Christmas, was well held in first-time tongue strap; mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon done with.

CORNERSTONE LAD had plenty on in this company, but went as if amiss even so; close up, mistake fifth, ridden after, hung left, lost place soon after, pulled up next.

NOT SO SLEEPY had plenty on in this company, but for the second start running his chance was compromised by a false start, unable to make the most of his assets from a standing start; handy, not settle fully, mistake third, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last.