The New One Unibet Hurdle Guide

The seven race card at Haydock on Saturday incredibly includes four Grade Twos, one of them featuring The New One Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle).

The race held at 2:40 is held over a distance just more than 1m7f, with some extremely interesting contenders heading to post.

The field are headed by the International Hurdle winner Brain Power, who has sprung back to life having reverted back to the smaller obstacles for the first time before Christmas.

After an emphatic debut at Kempton in November 2017, things never really worked out over fences, where he failed to win any of his next five.

The 8yo travelled ever so strongly in the International, leading home both Silver Streak and Western Ryder, who look all but set to join him in the field, seeking retribution themselves.

Nicky Henderson's 8yo gelding; along with the two just named, will face seven other rivals, including course and distance winners Clyne and Chti Balko.

Clyne - trained by Evan Williams, won here twice in handicap company back in 2016, and has risen through the ranks. Chti Balko meanwhile, won here for Donald McCain thirteen months ago.

Global Citizen made all at Newbury before being outclassed by two Nicky Henderson horses in the Christmas Hurdle.

Mohaayed was also a winner before Christmas, when skipping clear in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot.

Pingshou and Vision Des Flos both represent Ann and Alan Potts Ltd from the Colin Tizzard yard, whilst Boite may skip his other entries in favour for a place here.

There are some notable trends to focus on when placing your bet. All of the last twelve runners had been successful a minimum of twice over hurdles prior to competing in this race.

Whilst most horses entered have achieved this feat there are exceptions. 

More interestingly eleven out of thirteen finished in the top three on their last outing.

Of the ten declared runners on Saturday this rules out five of them. Also be sure to check that your horse has been active over the last 5 weeks. Eleven of the last thirteen winners had run over this period of time.

Horses at the head of the betting dominate proceedings in this race with the largest price over the last thirteen years being 9/4.

Eleven of the last thirteen winners have also come from the top three in the betting.

Ten of the last 13 winners have been rated 152 or higher. This is crucial considering that 50% of Saturday's runners are rated below this.

Nine of the last thirteen winners came here after running at either Cheltenham of Kempton.

In terms of this years renewal only three have failed to do this so it may be worth putting a line through those runners.

Whilst this is a trial for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March it is worth not getting too carried away with the winner.

No horse has gone on to win that blue ribband event in the last twelve years; four managed to finish in the top four.