Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHAMPION DISPLAY
Nightmare for Dream as Shar provestwogood
SHARJAH repeated his Matheson Hurdle victory of 12 months ago to earn a 12-1 quote for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
But the two-mile Grade 1 left a bittersweet taste on winning trainer Willie Mullins’ palate as 10-11 hotpot Klassical Dream trailed in stone last of the five runners.
Sharjah’s Champion Hurdle challenge ended in frustration last March — he was brought down when title-holder Buveur D’air fell at the third flight
But, after driving the 9-2 shot to a three-and-three-quarterlength margin over Petit Mouchoir, Mullins’ son — and record-breaking amateur rider — Patrick smiled: “I’d love another crack at it.
“I was able to arrive just as I wanted at the last and he did it well in the end.” Ireland’s champion trainer added: “Ruby [Walsh] was reminding me there if he hadn’t been brought down last year he might have been second or third in the Champion Hurdle.“
Last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Klassical Dream, who lost his place when he overjumped the fourth hurdle and stumbled badly on landing, had led the Champion Hurdle market at 3-1 yesterday — but can now be backed at 10-1.
“Klassical Dream will have to improve, but I think he can,” added Mullins snr.
Battleoverdoyen and Davy Russell fended off stablemate Champagne Classic to capture the three-runner Neville Hotels
Novice Chase by one length and remain unbeaten over fences.
“Davy said he only did what he had to do,” said Gordon Elliott, whose six-year-old is now as short as 7-1 second choice for Cheltenham’s RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.
SIZING JOHN, winner of the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup, will make his return from 733 days on the sidelines when he runs over hurdles at Punchestown tomorrow.