Glory And Fortune up against it in bid for back-to-back Welsh Champion Hurdles

Sunday: 3.10 Ffos Las
DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle | 2m | 3yo+ | Sky

The Welsh Champion Hurdle might be a handicap but four of the past five winners were household names with previous form in Grade 1 company.

Three of those winners actually struck at the highest level – The New One, Silver Streak and Sceau Royal – and Champion Hurdle fifth Glory And Fortune is back for more after bagging this last season.

The problem for Glory And Fortune is he was thrown in off a mark of 134 last term and was carrying just 10st 7lb.

The seven-year-old also lacks a prep run. He warmed up for Ffos Las in 2021 with a comfortable success at Plumpton four weeks earlier and must defy a 185-day break off a 19lb higher rating.

It will probably require a career-best effort from Glory And Fortune to pull this off as his peak effort on Racing Post Ratings is the 158 he recorded in the Champion.

The only horse with the advantage of race fitness is Irish raider Effernock Fizz, who has surely been underestimated in the early betting.

Effernock Fizz arrives in red-hot form after a good second to Jesse Evans in a Grade 3 at Tipperary, and among those finishing down the field that day were smart pair Abacadabras and Jason The Millitant.

The concern is Effernock Fizz runs off 5lb higher than his Irish rating, but it is easy to envisage a bold bid from this front-running seven-year-old.

Analysis by Robbie Wilders

'Topweights don't have a bad record'

Glory And Fortune ended his season by finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle and reappears in calmer waters as he bids for back-to-back successes in the Welsh Champion Hurdle for Tom Lacey.

The seven-year-old beat Dans Le Vent by four lengths in this race last year and, after running in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham, finished runner-up to Epatante in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

He then landed Newbury's Betfair Hurdle from I Like To Move It after a thrilling finish and was stepped back up to the top level in March. He finished fifth behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle before ending his season in the Aintree Hurdle, won by Epatante.

Glory And Fortune will carry the top weight of 11st 12lb at Ffos Las, and Lacey said: "Topweights don't have a bad record in the race, although a few of those lower down the weights deserve respect. He's in good form, likes the ground, and we're hopeful of a big run."

New sponsor

The Welsh Champion Hurdle will be sponsored by DragonBet for the first time this season and the co-founder of the Welsh bookmaker James Lovell is hoping for a home win – even if it costs them money.

"This race had a brilliant profile back in the 1970s, when household names like Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse won it,” said Lovell. "It hasn't reached those lofty heights recently, but we think it's heading back there with the likes of The New One.

"More recently, we've also had Oscar Whisky and Silver Streak, a winner trained in Wales. We want to be part of the journey and we believe the Welsh Champion Hurdle can become a big race again."

Zambezi Fix is the sole Welsh challenger for Bernard Llewellyn and his most recent start over hurdles came in Sandown's Imperial Cup. He fell at Chepstow when switched to fences for his final start of the year in April.

"I would love to see a Welsh winner, even if financially it might hurt us a bit," said Lovell. "People often bet local at Ffos Las and the Bowen brothers, Sean and James, are always supported. Welsh racing is currently doing well and it's great to be part of that."

What they say

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Hardy Du Seuil
He came over from France having won a novice hurdle so we tried to capitalise on his weight-for-age allowance when novice chasing last season. His jumping over fences was not always assured so he's back over hurdles off a nice mark. This was always the starting point for him.

Cian Collins, trainer of Effernock Fizz
She ran a cracker when second in a Grade 3 at Tipperary last week and if that hasn't taken it out of her we're hoping she'll run a big race. She's a tough mare and seems to have travelled over well.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Severance
The ground should suit now they've had a bit of rain and he's still the right side of the handicapper. He will jump a fence but we're in no rush and he could stay over hurdles if he performs well here.
Reporting by Jonathan Harding

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