The New One: needs to earn his place in the Champion Hurdle

 PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Champion Hurdle: the key trials for Cheltenham

IN JUST ten weeks the jumps season reaches its crescendo at the Cheltenham Festival. The finishing touches are still to be applied to the major contenders, while there is still time for others to emerge as credentials are tested in a series of final trials.

We assess where clues can be found for the first championship race of the meeting, the Champion Hurdle.

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Haydock: Champion Hurdle Trial (Grade 2) January 23

Significance for the Champion Hurdle: ** (out of five)

The New One carried the weight of the home team’s expectations in last season’s Champion Hurdle after winning this and this could again be the plan again for Nigel Twiston-Davies’s star, but not since Flakey Dove in 1994 has the race provided a Champion Hurdle winner.

Faugheen (pink): could meet his only conqueror again before Cheltenham

 PICTURE: Healy Racing

Leopardstown: Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) January 24

Significance for the Champion Hurdle: *****

Perhaps the race most likely to have a bearing on the ante-post market, with the first three in the betting for Cheltenham, 4-6 favourite and reigning champion Faugheen, 7-1 shot Nichols Canyonand 10-1 chance Arctic Fire among the seven entries.

The trio are trained by Willie Mullins, who has won the last four runnings with the legendary Hurricane Fly. He went on to complete the Champion Hurdle double twice and with 16-1 chance Identity Thief, who ran Nichols Canyon close last time, also a possible runner this year’s winner is sure to turn up at Cheltenham with bonafide claims on the crown.

Peace And Co (left): was an impressive winner of last year’s Triumph

 PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Sandown: Contenders Hurdle (Listed) February 6

Significance for the Champion Hurdle: ***

The brilliant Binocular won this in 2010 prior to Champion Hurdle glory and followed up in 2011 but missed Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson has some potential players for the Champion Hurdle, including Peace And Co and My Tent Or Yours, but running plans are yet to be confirmed.

Although last year’s winner Garde La Victoire did not compete in the Champion Hurdle, he has emerged as an Arkle contender so the race often proves informative.

Newbury: Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3) February 13

Significance for the Champion Hurdle: *

If there is a dark horse yet to emerge as a Champion Hurdle contender then this is the most likely launching pad for an assault on Cheltenham.

A competitive handicap with good prize-money, it is a prize worth winning in its own right. But it is also a race that has provided two Champion Hurdle winners, Persian War (1968) and Make A Stand (1997).

Old Guard (noseband): is a best-priced 40-1 for the Champion Hurdle

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Wincanton: Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2) February 20

Significance for the Champion Hurdle: **

Paul Nicholls last had his name next to the Champion Hurdle with Rock On Ruby in 2012, and often sends his leading hope for the race here.

He has had three Kingwell winners since 2001, Azertyuiop, Rigmarole and Zarkandar, and could target the race this year with the improving Old Guard.

Historically this has served as a good Champion Hurdle trial, with Katchit the most recent winner to use the race as a prep in 2008.