December 10 / 14.25 Cheltenham

14.25

Good

Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £74035
  • 2m 0f 179y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV4
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Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

OUR TIP

Form: 011-11 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
First run here; 6-9 over hurdles, improved performances this season to win useful 2m3f handicap at Chepstow (good) and 2m Grade 2 at Wincanton (good to firm), both in clearcut fashion and in the latter making all to account for the redoubtable Sceau Royal; that was serious form and this second-season hurdler is going places but giving weight all round asks more again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Knappers Hill

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Heavy ground provides an excuse for latest effort; has hinted at retaining ability otherwise since returning from lengthy layoff; very attractively treated on historical data, which includes four Grade 2 wins (bumper/hurdles/fences); one to consider.

9/2

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Knappers Hill

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart hurder/chaser in his prime; absent more than two years after Grade 2 novice chase win in autumn 2023 but returned with two pretty good efforts this season (2m5f/3m) and has possibiites in his first veterans' chase; copes well with soft ground; unraced on heavy.

3/1

Form: 1325-1 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Third last term in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and runner-up in the County at Cheltenham; raised his game again when asserting on the run-in in a seven-runner Grade 3 handicap at Newbury (good) on reappearance two weeks ago; needs better still but that progressive profile in handicaps puts him within striking distance in this Grade 2.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1520-1 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Short-headed in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last term in his novice season; disappointing in the County here in March but he reappeared with a dominant display in the traditionally strong Greatwood Handicap here (2m, good) four weeks ago, always bang there and with the runner-up finishing a further 13l clear of the third; that much improved form for this 5yo gives him a major chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

8th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

14:45 Uttoxeter

I Like To Move It

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very smart hurdler with good-ground wins in the Greatwood Handicap at Cheltenham and the Grade 2 Kingwell at Wincanton, easily the best of his five runs last season; his two heaviest defeats last term were on soft but best run the previous campaign was on good to soft; has much the best form in this small but select field; the one to beat if the ground is okay.

1/2

5th

2

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

I Like To Move It

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Well-beaten sixth of seven in last month's Champion Hurdle and he weakened on his sole previous attempt at this sort of trip; however, the ground was soft for both of those runs and perhaps he's better served by a sounder surface; has won the Greatwood Handicap and the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle and he's an each-way contender if able to produce his best form.

25/1

6th

2

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

I Like To Move It

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Progressive hurdler who powered clear for a 17l success in the Kingwell at Wincanton (1m7f) last month, bouncing back from his Relkeel flop over 2m4f; rated by trainer as being as good as the yard's best hurdlers in the past, including two horses who were placed in the Champion Hurdle; 3-3 over C&D, the most recent in this season's Greatwood (defied top weight in emphatic style); has raced mostly on good/good to soft; should go well.

20/1

Form: 0-7105 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Ran well over 3m on good ground here four weeks ago (albeit losing three places late on) and although his win at Killarney in July was over 2m1f, it seemed that 2m was too sharp for him here yesterday; question of ideal trip is far from the biggest he has to answer, though, as his form leaves him with a lot to find at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:30 Killarney

Zoffanien

11st 5lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Terence O’Brien

Has hit the frame in both handicap hurdle outings in 2025, the latest when runner-up at Cork beaten 2l in April; mixed signals on the strength of that form but fit after respectable Flat outing last month and feasibly treated on old form.

9/1

10

(8)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:05 Navan

Zoffanien

9st 11lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Terence O’Brien

Three-time hurdles winner and 2-12 on the Flat; has run well on every outing since joining this yard, including four Flat runs in the second half of last year; stayed on well when second over hurdles at Cork when last seen; will be doing best work late.

14/1

Form: 121-32 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
First, third and second here in the last three Champion Hurdles; won the big 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree this April; zero threat to the young star Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle two weeks ago after seven-month break but the form was in line with her two wins in that race; December target in previous seasons has been the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but best efforts last term set the form standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

15:50 Punchestown

Epatante

11st 7lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear but in touch with leaders, some headway on inner 2 out, pushed along when bit short of room home turn, soon outpaced and lost position when ridden, went fourth before last, no extra run-in

11/2

4th

6

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Epatante

11st 3lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't have to be at her best for Grade 2 mares' win at Doncaster in January and disappointing in the mares' hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival; however, she won this race last year (good to soft) and there's every chance she'll be best of the rest behind stablemate Constitution Hill, which was the case in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.

12/1

8th

3

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Epatante

11st 5lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the 2020 Champion Hurdle; no match for superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth or Christmas Hurdle at the end of 2022 but underlined what a class act she is among her own sex when hacking up in a 2m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has won a Grade 1 over this trip; major player.

6/1

Verdict

Epatante brings lots of form at the top level, which appears to give her the best chance at these weights. However, while this field surely won’t contain any rival as good as the red-hot Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill, by whom Epatante was so thoroughly eclipsed at Newcastle two weeks ago, it does include three younger candidates who have all improved this season and could be capable of better still. I LIKE TO MOVE IT earns the selection following his impressive success in a major handicap here last month and can add his name to those of Khyber Kim, The New One and Guard Your Dreams who have already registered five wins between them in this race for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. Epatante is second on the list but Knappers Hill and First Street are also highly respected.[Richard Austen]

Selections

RP Ratings:

Epatante

SPOTLIGHT:

I Like To Move It

Daily Mirror:

Knappers Hill

Daily Mail:

First Street

WEST COUNTRY:

I Like To Move It

The Guardian:

I Like To Move It

D Express:

I Like To Move It

Daily Record:

Knappers Hill

The Sun:

First Street

TOPSPEED:

Epatante

POSTDATA:

Epatante

LAMBOURN:

Epatante

The Times:

Epatante

Telegraph:

Epatante

The Star:

Epatante