Class act Epatante tightens grip on Champion Hurdle market with dazzling victory

From the ridiculous to the sublime – it started with a comedy of errors and ended with a display of pure class.

A year after Champion Hurdle-winning stablemate Buveur D'Air suffered a freak injury when impaled by part of a flight in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Epatante avoided bizarre early shenanigans at Newcastle and showed just why she had come out on top at Cheltenham eight months earlier.

Hopes that Not So Sleepy would ensure a decent pace in the first Grade 1 hurdle of the season in Britain were dashed when he tried to refuse at the first flight and unseated Paddy Brennan.

Hopes that Silver Streak could improve on last year's third place were dashed at the very next flight when he was carried out by the loose horse, who continued thereafter and on occasions threatened to interfere with Sceau Royal, who was left in lead on sufferance.

But Aidan Coleman was never concerned on Epatante, who travelled smoothly throughout in behind the unexpected leader.

His mount oozed class as she moved alongside Daryl Jacob on Sceau Royal from after the second-last flight and she looked every inch a Champion Hurdle winner as she quickened smartly on the run-in for an easy four-and-a-quarter-length success.

Coleman, back on board a mare he'd won a handicap at Newbury on this weekend last year now that Barry Geraghty has retired, said: "It was a bit weird after we jumped two hurdles with what Not So Sleepy did and poor old Silver Streak. But we followed away, she was very professional and she won realiy well. I'm delighted.

Aidan Coleman avoids the shenanigans at the start of the race aboard EpatanteCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"All credit must go to Sceau Royal, what a genuine horse he must be because I was able to follow him and let Daryl worry about all that – they negotiated their way round perfectly, it was like riding in a cross-country race in parts.

"It was easy for me, I just had to follow him and when I asked her to go she picked up like a champion hurdler should. I was very happy with how it was done and it was great to get back on her."

Trainer Nicky Henderson watched his record sixth Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner from Newbury and said: "It's a relief as much as anything. It shows that everything she did last year, there was no fluke about it. I thought she was great, she's a proper hurdler. The great thing about her is you can press a button and off she goes."

Job done! Aidan Coleman and Epatante return after the mare's smooth successCredit: John Grossick

Epatante is now set to bid to repeat last year's win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and Henderson added: "I was delighted to see her do that, the gears work. Sceau Royal is not a bad horse and you couldn't ask for more. She'll come on and that brings her into Christmas nicely."

Jacob was happy with Sceau Royal, given the circumstances, and said: "The loose horse wasn't ideal but he ran a super race, I was very proud of him."

Trainer Evan Williams was philosophical about Silver Streak's early departure, saying: "That's life. The jockey is walking back and the horse is walking back. That's racing."

Last year's winner Cornerstone Lad was withdrawn due to the ground and Betfair refunded all bets on Silver Streak and Not So Sleepy as a free bet, while cutting Epatante at the head of their Champion Hurdle market to 2-1 (from 3).

Members can read about all of Nicky Henderson's stars in our Stable Tour series

'We hope he'll be a true champ at Cheltenham' - big names head another top team

'She has an enormous engine and has summered well - hopefully she's top class' - part two of our Nicky Henderson stable tour

'He could be top class and I believe in him big time - even if others don't!' - part three of our Nicky Henderson stable tour

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