Unibet International Hurdle

The headline act of the two-day International meeting is the Unibet International Hurdle, and while this year’s line-up has only attracted five runners, it certainly isn’t short on quality.

Two-time Champion Hurdle winner Epatante will take on two of the biggest improvers so far this season in the shape of Paul Nicholls’ Elite Hurdle winner Knappers Hill and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Greatwood Hurdle winner, I Like To Move It, while Nicky Henderson will also be represented with recent Newbury winner, First Street. 

Let’s take a closer look at the runners for this year’s edition and try to identify the winner. 

International Hurdle 2022 Runners 

Knappers Hill

  • Trainer: Paul Nicholls
  • Jockey: Harry Cobden 
  • Best Price Odds: 4/1
  • Form: 01111

 

It’s been a long time since the champion trainer last had a genuine Champion Hurdle contender; in fact, the last time Paul even had a runner in the race was way back in 2014 when Ptit Zig finished 6th behind the likes of Jezki, My Tent Or Yours and Hurricane Fly.

Clearly, Paul Nicholls hasn’t quite been able to find that star-studded two-mile hurdler since Rock On Ruby took the crown in 2012, who also finished 2nd in the 2013 version. 

Moreover, and what’s even more surprising, is that Nicholls has only ever trained the winner of the Champion Hurdle once so far in his career which is quite remarkable considering he’s been champion trainer 13 times in the last 16 years. That said, this might be the time he has a genuine contender in Knappers Hill, though he would have to find improvement to trouble Constitution Hill next March. 

This six-year-old, however, has won nine of his 12 career starts, including his last four with the latest of those coming in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. His victory put him on the brink of a potential bid at the big one at the Cheltenham Festival as he beat three-time winner of the Elite Hurdle Sceau Royal by two-and-a-half lengths with one of the best juvenile hurdlers of last season, Knight Salute, well-held in 3rd. 

This weekend’s feature race (14:25 on Saturday) has been the plan ever since he crossed the line at Wincanton last time and while this will be his first examination of the undulations of Prestbury Park, he has the speed for two-miles and stays further, and those two combinations with the possibility of decent ground should see him to good effect. 

He could be hard to beat in this race if able to continue his rise through the ranks with more to come and a 75% win ratio attached to his profile. 

I Like To Move It

  • Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
  • Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies 
  • Best Price Odds: 15/8
  • Form: 115021

 

Nigel Twiston-Davies will be looking for a record-equalling sixth win this race with recent Greatwood Hurdle winner I Like To Move It, who will bid to follow in the footsteps of Khyber Kim, who most will remember winning the Greatwood Hurdle before winning the International Hurdle and then finishing second in the Champion Hurdle as well as winning the Aintree Hurdle on his next start. 

Guard Your Dreams won this 12 months ago for the stable but most racing fans will be fond of The New One’s three wins in the race following victories in the 2013, 2014 and 2016 renewals and Nigel will be hoping this progressive youngster can throw himself into the Champion Hurdle picture with victory this weekend. 

He was a tad unlucky not to collect the Betfair Hurdle last season when beaten just a short-head and although he wasn’t seen to best effect in the Coral Cup on his next start, he produced a great weight-carrying performance in the Greatwood Hurdle last time, for which he was winning at this venue for the third time, albeit on the old course. 

The fact that he bossed the field from the front and was giving the 2nd Gin Coco 11Ib suggested he’s got a touch of class and has the capability to mix it at a higher level. Whether he can muster that into winning material at the highest level remains to be seen but if he can carry his last performance into this race on the new course, he’s sure to be in the firing line come the business end of the race. 

 

Epatante

  • Trainer: Nicky Henderson
  • Jockey: Aidan Coleman 
  • Best Price Odds: 6/4
  • Form: 112132 

 

Nicky Henderson’s Epatante, who has two Champion Hurdles, two Christmas Hurdles and two Fighting Fifth Hurdles on her CV, probably hasn’t been given the recognition she deserves for what she has achieved so far in her career to date.

Especially when you consider she has won nine of her 16 career starts. While we have only seen one eight-year-old winner of this race in the last 20 years, who’s to say she cannot go close here. 

She ultimately proved no match for stablemate Constitution Hill on her latest start when bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the Fighting Fifth when 2nd but she still ran very well in defeat and it’s interesting to see her connections take up this route with her rather than go for the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, which would likely mean a rematch with the current Champion Hurdle favourite. 

She has only been out of the frame once in her career to date and she’s familiar to this venue, given she’s a former two-time Champion Hurdle winner and finished 2nd in this year’s race behind Honeysuckle. She is sure to be a lot fitter from her recent return to action and there’s every chance she’ll get a good pace to aim here as Knappers Hill and I Like To Move It take each other on. 

Furthermore, she’s the highest-rated of the high-profile trio 154, whereas the other two mentioned are rated 153 and 152. In addition, this mare will be in receipt of five-pound and upwards from the pair in this race. That could prove more than valuable in her quest for another victory in the Cotswolds and whatever the conditions will be this Saturday, she will handle it as she’s ground-versatile. 

First Street

  • Trainer: Nicky Henderson
  • Jockey: Nico De Boinville
  • Best Price Odds: 15/2
  • Form: 513251 

 

Henderson will also be represented in the race with First Street, who made a successful return at Newbury when shouldering top-weight to success and while this race will ask more of his credentials, he’s open to plenty of improvement and could easily make his presence felt in this grade as he is closely matched with I Like To Move It and Knappers Hill on their clash in last season’s Betfair Hurdle. 

This five-year-old was 2nd in two bumpers and has taken very well to hurdles, in which he’s won four of his eight starts in this sphere and also made the frame in two of the hottest handicaps of the season last term.

Firstly, when an excellent 3rd of 14 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, where he would have finished closer with a clear passage plus he was only two-lengths behind I Like To Move It at the finish despite giving his rival three-pounds. He also had Knappers Hill back in 6th, who he was giving six-pounds. 

He is fundamentally three-pounds better off with the former this weekend and should get the rub-of-the-green in this smaller-field scenario, so there’s no obvious reason why he cannot bridge the gap on the current favourite and possibly confirm that form with Knappers Hill. 

He also has the experience of this course in his inventory too, given he ran a cracker to finish a one-and-three-quarter length 2nd to dual subsequent Grade 1 winner State Man in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when giving the winner a pound, who’s advertised the strength of the form in a big way since. 

His 5th in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Festival behind Jonbon can easily be forgiven. He was clearly feeling the excursions of a hard season as that was his fourth run in four months plus he gave it everything to beat all bar State Man in the County, in which I Like To Move It was well-beaten down the field. 

This race is only a two-week turnaround for his comeback victory at Newbury when defying top-weight but the five-year-old clearly has more to offer and ticks a lot of boxes for this race such as age, course form, conditions, all on his side. 

Henderson wouldn’t be running him in this if he didn’t think he was in tip-top shape after that latest winning return. I Like To Move It won the Greatwood Hurdle last time and has clearly improved since his Betfair Hurdle second but, mathematically, First Street is overpriced on a line through the Betfair Hurdle and County Hurdle form. 

He was giving Knappers Hill six-pounds when he had that rival in behind when 3rd in the Betfair and gets an eight-pound swing this time round with that rival plus he has the course form to his name compared to the former who hasn’t, which is advantageous for Nicky Henderson’s participant. 

Zoffanien

  • Best Price Odds: 100/1
  • Form: 07105 

 

The final runner is the outsider of the party, Zoffanien, who makes the journey over from Ireland. He was last seen running well to finish 5th in a handicap Hurdle event here behind Annual Invictus at the November Meeting but it’s hard to see him troubling his four opponents, who are rated higher and have the stronger substance of form. 

He did shape well when 8th in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival last year but he’s probably one for handicaps again, as this race looks a tall order for him based on what he’s achieved. He is a solid horse in his own right but given the opposition he’s taking on in this race, he is comfortably overlooked and would be a shock winner.

Unibet International Hurdle 2022 Tips & Prediction

Despite only the five declared for this year’s renewal of this Grade Two event, this should still be a good race, especially with both Henderson and Twiston-Davies going for a record sixth win in the race, with the former doubly-represented with both Epatante and First Street and the latter having Greatwood Hurdle winner I Like To Move It to rely on, who is marginally second-favourite to Epatante at the time of writing. 

Nicholls will be hoping Knappers Hill can earn himself a spot in the Champion Hurdle in March if successful here but tactics could play a crucial part in the outcome of this race as either Knappers Hill or I Like To Move It could lead if required to do so by their jockeys. 

Epatante has an excellent record at Cheltenham given she’s a two-time Champion Hurdle winner and is the one to beat at the weights given her allowance, while impressive Elite Hurdle winner Knappers Hill could be well-suited to the course and has to be feared despite conceding weight all round. 

I Like To Move It has a good chance of supplementing his Greatwood Hurdle win with victory here but has to prove himself on the new course as all of his wins here have been on the old course, while outsider and Irish raider Zoffanien has plenty to find on the form and looks vulnerable. 

However, I am really drawn to the claims of Nicky Henderson’s FIRST STREET (best price 15/2), who has been underestimated in the market here and appeals most at the odds with the prospect of even more to come now back at the scene of his 2nd in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 

There was a lot to like about the way he overhauled Grivetana at Newbury on his reappearance, where he was tasked with carrying top-weight 12st and was gave the runner-up nearly two-stone. He quickened up smartly in the closing stages having travelled well to win by two-lengths plus, taking his record over hurdles to four wins from eight starts. 

He didn’t get the clearest of runs when 3rd in last season’s Betfair Hurdle but still managed to get within two lengths of the first and second and he was giving the second three-pounds too, so it was a performance worthy of an upgrade. He will renew rivalry with I Like To Move It on three-pounds better terms here and in that very race at Newbury, he had Knappers Hill back in 6th, who was in receipt of six-pounds from Henderson’s inmate. 

First Street gets an eight-pounds pull with Nicholls’ leading fancy this weekend, plus he has the experience of Prestbury Park, whereas the latter has yet to run at the course and that could count for plenty when looking at the bigger picture of this race. 

With this in mind, there is every possibility First Street will confirm the form with Nicholls’ charge and potentially reverse the Betfair Hurdle form with Twiston-Davies’ charge too, whom he was miles in front of in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 

The fact that First Street is three times the odds of both of those, who he’s tied in closely with, is enough to hand him the vote for this race. He is likely to get a good pace to aim at and Nico is in the saddle, so in the hope none of the quintet are pulled out, which would restrict each-way terms, then he makes a lot of sense from an each-way perspective. 

However, he must have a solid chance of taking the scalp of the market leaders so I therefore advise him as a WIN bet only.