Scudamore’s verdicts on the big races

Peter Scudamore EIGHT TIMES CHAMPION JOCKEY

tHE last novice to win the stan James Champion Hurdle was Make A stand in 1997 trained by Martin Pipe and, 20 years on, son David has a great chance of emulating him with MOON RACER.

the eight-year-old is ridden by my son tom but it is not simply family bias that draws me to Moon Racer’s chance in the feature race of this opening day.

Not many novices compete in the Champion Hurdle and Moon Racer was also entered in the supreme Novices’ Hurdle. the fact that Pipe has thrown Moon Racer into the big one looks significant.

It is true Moon Racer is a fragile gelding who has only raced six times. that means striking while he is in good shape is essential and who’s to say Moon Racer will be fit this time next year?

But the Pipes will also have taken into account that this looks a very winnable renewal of the Champion Hurdle. the last two victors — Annie Power and Faugheen — are sidelined by injury.

the trainers of two horses running in other races — Altior for Nicky Henderson (Arkle Chase); Yorkhill for Willie Mullins (JLt Novices’ Chase) — have admitted those two would have been their No 1 hopes had they chosen to go down the Champion Hurdle route.

Moon Racer, only beaten once, is already a Festival winner having landed the 2015 Champion Bumper when Champion Hurdle favourite Yanworth was third. His lack of experience is a concern, but he recently took part in a schooling session at Wincanton when he apparently went well.

At around 8-1, he looks a fair bet in a race where I feel you’ve got to take on the favourite.