Espoir emerges as Champion Hurdle contender following classy display

After Buveur D'Air's defeat at Kempton, the Champion Hurdle is a race that needs a new contender to emerge, and perhaps a challenger is beginning to emerge in Espoir D'Allen, who recorded an impressive success in the Grade 3 Irish Independent Hurdle.

Taking on Stormy Ireland and Triumph Hurdle winner Farclas, this was the top juvenile race we were denied last season, but it was a race that was somewhat marred by the early fall of Farclas, which left his rider Jamie Codd being taken to University Hospital Limerick with suspected rib injuries.

In the race itself Espoir D'Allen under Jody McGarvey tracked favourite Stormy Ireland, and after being ridden for a couple of strides in the straight, the manner in which he picked up and went past her was that of a very talented horse.