During the jumps season everything every trainer, jockey and horse does throughout the season is all leading up to the Cheltenham festival and it is now around the time where the horses that will be heading for the big races in March are unleashed for there seasonal debuts.
The feature race on the first day of the festival is the Grade One Champion Hurdle and we have a fancy that slightly goes under the radar as not many people will really know about how good this horse is.
SALDIER for trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci is our Dark Horse selection for the Champion Hurdle and is currently a huge price of 16/1 that will not be around forever in our eyes.
The five year old gelding has been off the track for some time but if retaining his ability has to be respected if stepping into this contest which was the plan last year before his nasty injury.
With a big target of the Champion Hurdle Mullins sent Saldier to Naas for his seasonal debut last year in the Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle.
More drama at @NaasRacecourse as Espoir D'Allen wins the Grade 3 Fishery Lane Hurdle. Saldier and Ruby Walsh up after their final flight fall... pic.twitter.com/7glNY4nxKj
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 10, 2018
The gelding had jumped lovely all the way round before coming up to the last alongside Espoir D'Allen, who landed the Champion Hurdle at the 2019 festival, but unfortunately taking a nasty fall when he looked sure to take the race.
That form alone is a huge thing to look at if being able to replicate it but after the fall it was revealed Saldier had broken his nose and was not raced again throughout the season.
Mullins admitted he could of raced last term but has been saved for this season and is in rude health ahead of his intended targets and we believe at 16/1 he is one to follow.