After the news broke that Iberico Lord has been supplemented for the Champion Hurdle, we’re taking a look at the last Betfair Hurdle winner to go on and land the big prize on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Betfair Hurdle Winner Iberico Lord Supplemented For Champion Hurdle
Nicky Henderson released a statement on Wednesday morning (6th March) to announce that Betfair Hurdle winner Iberico Lord has been supplemented for the Champion Hurdle.
This comes after the unfortunate news that Constitution Hill will be missing the Cheltenham Festival, after the eight-time Grade One winner appeared unwell with a build up of mucus. The Seven Barrows handler said he was “not fit to run” at Presbury Park.
However, Iberico Lord will now join stable companion Luccia in the line-up for the Champion Hurdle, with 2/5 favourite State Man the one to beat.
How Much Did It Cost To Supplement Iberico Lord?
Owner JP McManus would have had to pay £18,000 to get his charge into the race. He was also entered in the County Hurdle on the Friday, but the conditions of the Champion Hurdle will be sure to suit.
With the fees totalling to £18,000 to get Iberico Lord into the Champion Hurdle, he would need to finish at least fourth to win that money back (£23,850). The money pretty much doubles for 3rd (£47,745) and then again for 2nd (£95,400).
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) March 6, 2024
Iberico Lord Will Need To Overcome 27 Year Trend To Win Champion Hurdle
It’s not often that a Betfair Hurdle winner goes on to win the Champion Hurdle, let alone even compete in it. However, connections must feel that the talented Iberico Lord has a fair chance in the field – else he wouldn’t have been supplemented.
The six-year-old has won three races from seven runs over hurdles so far, and has improved massively this season. He started off his campaign by landing the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in November.
However, wasn’t suited by dryer ground next time out in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot (7th).
Despite finishing seventh out of nine on his penultimate start, he backed up his potential when landing the Betfair Hurdle when seen last at Newbury. All of the wins so far in his career have came on either soft or heavy ground, and conditions are expected to be in his favour on the opening day of the Festival.
So, what chance does he have when looking at the Champion Hurdle trends?
Well…there hasn’t been a Betfair Hurdle winner follow up with success in the Champion Hurdle since 1997.
The last horse to win the Betfair Hurdle and then win the Champion Hurdle was MAKE A STAND, trained by Martin Pipe with AP McCoy riding him to glory at Cheltenham. He took over from Chris Maude in the saddle who rode him at Newbury.
While two days after landing the Champion Hurdle, AP McCoy made it a famous Cheltenham Festival double when riding Mr Mulligan to win the 1997 Gold Cup. The meeting catapulted AP into the bigtime – the rest is history.
However, sadly Make A Stand only ran twice more without success. Flopping as favourite in the Aintree Hurdle the following month and then a well-beaten 11th in his Champion Hurdle defence in 1998.
He was soon retired at just 7, but went onto live until he was 28.
Watch the Peter Deel-owned 6 year-old led the 1997 Champion Hurdle field a merry dance below. Taking up the running early on and never saw another rival.
When Is The 2024 Champion Hurdle?
📅Date: Tuesday 12th March 2024
🕙Time: 3:30pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
📺 TV: Racing TV / ITV
WATCH: Iberico Lord Wins 2024 Betfair Hurdle
Iberico Lord wins the Betfair Hurdle at @NewburyRacing! pic.twitter.com/QPwkv9FQpg
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 10, 2024
Champion Hurdle 2024 Odds
Note – odds courtesy of the best UK horse racing betting sites and are subject to change.
- State Man @ 2/5
- Irish Point @ 5/1
- Lossiemouth @ 10/1
- Not So Sleepy @ 16/1
- Iberico Lord @ 20/1
- Luccia @ 20/1
- Zarak The Brave @ 20/1
- Nemean Lion @ 25/1
- Echoes In Rain @ 33/1
- Pied Piper @ 33/1
- Colonel Mustard @ 50/1
- Love Envoi @ 50/1
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