After witnessing some exciting performances at the back end of 2009 and with the Cheltenham Festival and the 2010 Flat Season fast approaching, Nick Wilby picks out his top antepost tip for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

KHYBER KIM

Champion Hurdle
2m, Cheltenham, March 2010
12/1 (Paddy Power)

The 2010 Champion Hurdle puzzle looks tougher than ever before and with so many top class hurdlers in with a chance, it seems certain we are in for a thriller this March.  My original preference in the race would have been for Hurricane Fly, Willie Mullins’ Irish raider who has long been held in high esteem by his trainer.  If he is as good as I believe he is, he would have taken some stopping at Cheltenham, but his position in the field looks in huge doubt after the fragile superstar suffered another injury recently.

Instead, I am happy to back Khyber Kim at a very generous 12/1 following his victories in the Greatwood Hurdle and more recently the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham.  No horse since Rooster Booster has followed up in the Festival showpiece after winning the International Hurdle, but Khyber Kim looks in great form this season and he is finally building on the promise he showed as a youngster.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained seven year old showed an impressive turn of foot to settle the Greatwood after the final flight, before producing a similar display in beating last year’s Champion Hurdle first and second Punjabi and Celestial Halo in the Boylesports.  It would seem fair to say that he could be even more effective given a stronger early gallop and his latest performance, along with the rate he is evidently progressing, clearly puts him right in the Cheltenham Festival frame.

He is not the most consistent type in the antepost betting and it would be fair to say that his temperament will always be a slight concern, but Khyber Kim is evidently a class act on his day and his form stacks up with the other leading contenders.

Nick Wilby's advice - Back Khyber Kim for the Champion Hurdle at 12/1 with Paddy Power.

Follow this link to Paddy Power for information on how to get a free bet on any of their 2010 antepost markets.