'It needs something remarkable for Epatante to be beaten in Christmas Hurdle'

2.25 Kempton
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Among the champions of the four main divisions, none of them look so secure in their position as Epatante. She is unbeaten in over 20 months and currently holds all three races that not so long ago carried a £1 million bonus as two-mile hurdling's triple crown.

You might reasonably ask why Epatante is not being celebrated more widely. Part of it may be a sense that she is clearly stooping to conquer. So much talk preceded last season's Champion Hurdle identifying it as the weakest in many years.

That sense carries through into the Christmas Hurdle, which is a little weaker than the race Epatante won last year but only because it lacks the same depth.

The placed horses, Silver Streak and Ballyandy, both reoppose while her other two rivals have significantly more than a stone to make up.

The smaller the field, the better is a good rule of thumb for Epatante, whose most devastating attribute is her turn of pace. Since she started her winning streak, only in the Champion Hurdle has speed not been the major demand placed on the field.

In fact, she is so quick it is surprising there have not been calls to plot a Flat campaign for her in the summer. She resembles a stronger version of her stablemate Verdana Blue, whose biggest day came in this race two years ago.

The expectation is that Epatante will stalk and pounce once again. It is hoped rather than expected that things will be different this time, but there are grounds for thinking there might be an end-to-end gallop.

The likeliest pace-setter may come from Epatante's yard. Floressa made all in the Gerry Feilden last time, the same race that launched Epatante towards this race 12 months ago.

The jockeys may defer to Jerry McGrath again, but in the name of both good sport and tactical enterprise Harry Cobden and/or Sam Twiston-Davies may decide differently.

Twiston-Davies' mount Ballyandy shared the lead with Elixir De Nutz in the 2019 Christmas Hurdle, while Diego Du Charmil, partnered by Cobden, has been ridden with similar tactics on both starts this season.

Both have a better chance of outlasting Epatante than outsprinting her. A relay would certainly make the Christmas Hurdle more interesting than it looks like it might be.

The fitting of cheekpieces to Diego Du Charmil could be read as a sign of intent. Although he is justly a rank outsider on this year's form, a replication of his chasing best from this time last year would make him Epatante's main danger.

Read a selection of our Boxing Day tipping . . .

Members' Club: Pricewise – 'he could be better than Asterion Forlonge' – Tom Segal fancies Limerick upset

Members' Club: 'He's by far Britain's best staying novice this term' – Paul Kealy's best bets

Members' Club: 'This race has probably been the plan' – David Jennings' Leopardstown tips

Saturday's free racing tips: our expert selections for a Boxing Day bonanza

The Punt Daily: Robbie Wilders' free horseracing tip on Boxing Day

Members' Club: Big Race Trends – Nicholls holds all the aces in Kempton's Christmas showpiece

He is as well known for his quirks as his ability, having famously taken out stablemate Capeland at Ascot last November before being allowed to keep the race.

A straighter, more focused Diego Du Charmil could add intrigue to the Christmas Hurdle, but, make no mistake, only something pretty remarkable would be enough to actually beat Epatante.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

'Right up there with the best' - Epatante primed for Christmas Hurdle defence

Epatante will be among punters' Boxing Day bankers when she bids to repeat last year's stylish win in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle.

Last season's Champion Hurdle winner faces only four rivals, headed by the pair who chased her home 12 months ago, when she gave Nicky Henderson a seventh win in the last ten runnings.

Unsurprisingly bookmakers are offering odds no better than 4-11.

Henderson has long been the pre-eminent trainer of top-class two-mile hurdlers, and Epatante embodies many of the characteristics that have contributed to the stable's record nine wins in the Christmas Hurdle and eight in the Champion Hurdle.

Epatante: on course for her Christmas Hurdle defenceCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Her slick jumping and ability to travel and quicken in the very best company offers obvious similarities to Binocular and Buveur D'Air, who preceded her in winning both races.

She is understandably held in the highest esteem by her trainer, who said: "I think the common denominator among all of our top hurdlers is their ability to cross a hurdle very, very quickly and Epatante is right up with the best.

"She has that change of gear too. She's one of those push-button types. She goes along quietly and you wouldn't know what you were sitting on until you pressed the button.

"When you ask her to go she goes, but you can mind her for a bit, as we saw again when Aidan [Coleman] rode her at Newcastle.

"She's been beaten only once over hurdles [in the mares' novice at Cheltenham in 2019], when I thought she was one of our best chances of the whole meeting."

Floressa: won the Gerry Feilden last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

If Epatante underperforms, it is possible that the stable's second string will be the one to take advantage. Floressa made a successful reappearance in the same handicap at Newbury that Epatante won last year, winning off a 4lb higher mark.

She disappointed in the mares' novice at Cheltenham this year before bouncing back at Newbury, but Henderson is reluctant to draw comparisons with Epatante.

The trainer hinted that by March she will be much more likely to be taking the Honeysuckle route in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle than tackling the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

He said: "It was a good performance at Newbury and she's got a good chance of picking up some Grade 1 black type. That's obviously attractive for a mare but I would think she'll be running over two and a half miles before long."

What the others say

Evan Williams, trainer of Silver Streak
He’s just a joy and horses like him are very hard to find. The reality is that if he’s going to win one of these he needs to bump into less talented rivals. He’s very, very tough and genuine, and the ones that beat him have that bit of brilliance. People say he’s been unlucky, but I’ve no complaints about Cheltenham, where the winner gave us weight and in my opinion beat us fair and square. Newcastle was just one of those things.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Ballyandy
He was third last year behind Epatante and Silver Streak, and he’s got them to beat again, but I’m hopeful he’ll do better as he’s looked as good as ever this season.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Diego Du Charmil
He's got it all to do and Epatante is basically unbeatable, so he's just playing for the places, but the track and ground will suit and he always runs his race.

Read our Boxing Day previews . . .

Members' Club: regal King George has what it takes to unite racing fans of every stripe

3.00 Kempton: King George VI Chase: key pointers and trainer quotes for the big race

Members' Club: high-class novices set to illuminate Boxing Day cards

Members' Club: reasons to believe Cyrname can reverse Clan form – expert King George analysis

1.50 Kempton: 'On his hurdles form he'd be a strong favourite' – If The Cap Fits excites Fry

Members' Club: 'It's an open race but Cyrname is in top form' – Harry Cobden joins the Saturday Jury

2.05 Wetherby: A weak Rowland Meyrick? Don't believe it, there is plenty to learn

1.05 Leopardstown: Is Zanahiyr another star? Gordon Elliott set to unleash Triumph favourite

2.15 Leopardstown: Stars on show as Darver faces Felix in cracking Racing Post Novice Chase

2.35 Limerick: No Leopardstown for Townend as he eyes Grade 1 with Asterion Forlonge

Join Members' Club Ultimate and read tipping from the likes of Pricewise and Paul Kealy, all the big interviews and features, daily comment and news analysis - plus our Ultimate Daily newsletter. Click here to sign up.