City Price Crash For Champion

Detroit City is William Hill's new 7-2 favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle after giving weight and a beating to his rivals in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Following an outing on the Flat last month which yielded victory in the Cesarewitch, the galloping grey was sent off the 6-5 favourite to emulate his ill-fated stablemate Rooster Booster, who took the Grade Three contest four years ago.

Richard Johnson had the four-year-old in the lead from the off and he turned the screw coming down the hill before romping to a 14-length success from Ameeq, with Caraman a further three lengths back in third.

William Hill were 'very impressed' with the performance and catapulted him to the head of their Champion Hurdle list at 7-2 (from 7-1), while Ladbrokes make Detroit City their 4-1 market leader.

Coral trimmed him into 5-1 behind Brave Inca, the same price as Boylesports, with Cashmans the most generous at 11-2.

Hobbs said: 'I'm sure he will stay further but he's effective at two miles so we will stay at this trip and go for the Champion.

'After that performance I would say that handicaps are out and he'll run next in the Boylesports International back here next month.

'I am sure he is the best Triumph Hurdle winner we have seen for a long time.

'I did hope he would win like that as he has improved since last year. He has been doing so much at home and it is nice when they come to the races and show it.

'He will jump a fence in time but I won't consider that at the moment, we have to get the Champion Hurdle out of the way first.'

Johnson added: 'He came away from them all really well and did it very easily. I let him stride down the hill and he obviously stays very well ? I never felt like getting to the bottom of him, which was very nice.

'On what he has done here you would have to consider him a candidate for the Champion Hurdle.'

David Wilson, assistant to Gary Moore, trainer of Ameeq, said of the runner-up: 'He has ran a very good race on ground that is softer than he likes.

'We expected Detroit City to be the main danger and we are all very pleased.

'I would hope there's a nice handicap in this fellow as he wants faster ground.'

John Quinn, trainer of third-placed Caraman and fourth-placed Aleron, said: 'I think we've seen the Champion Hurdle winner here as he made all with top weight on that ground.

'My two are fair handicappers and both nice horses and we are just pleased we picked up some decent prize money.'

? PA Sport