Dunguib Connections Opt for Champion Hurdle

Arguably considered the biggest bust at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, coming in the first race on the first day, Dunguib has been pointed towards the much more testing Champion Hurdle in lieu of the Coral Cup, in which he had also been given entry.

Beaten at odds-on in the Supreme Novices last year, Dunguib is still yet to race since a tame sixth place finish in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last April. The eight year-old son of Presenting will line up for a long-awaited seasonal debut in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle this Saturday.

Speaking to the Racing Post, conditioner Philip Fenton declared that “The Coral Cup is not in the picture… We’ll see how he performs Saturday and that will give us a fair indication of where we are going.

Plenty of talent is already pointed at the Champion Hurdle with respected jumper Binocular currently leading the way in the favourite’s position with a 7/2 price tag. Well-fancied pair Hurricane Fly and Menorah are both trading at 5/1 while Peddler’s Cross remains very competitive at an 11/2 listing with most major bookmakers.

Dunguib is priced near 20/1 across the board for a win in the Champion Hurdle. The only thing that would prompt a price drop at this point would be a massive improvement this Saturday, but punters will likely be wondering if connections left it too little – too late.