Exciting Draw Announced for Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final
The trap draw for Sunday’s highly anticipated Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final at Crayford was released today, with a reminder to trainers that entries for supporting events close on Wednesday. The Sunday night card will feature a variety of races, including a seniors race over 540m and a 540m hurdles contest, alongside the marquee events: the £10,000-to-the-winner Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final and the £1,000 Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Cup Final.
Last night’s semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle were filled with surprises, as the odds-on favourites in each race were not only defeated but eliminated.
In the first semi-final, Harlequin Ernie secured victory for six-time Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Ricky Holloway. Ernie led from the first bend and maintained three-quarters of a length lead over kennel mate Razldazl Randall, finishing in 23.78 seconds (+20). Droopys Fivestar, trained by Allison Kelly-Pilgrim, placed third, while the favoured Razldazl Barkley, despite having the fastest time in the previous week’s heats, finished fourth and missed out on Sunday’s final.
The second semi-final brought mixed emotions for Barry O’Sullivan, as favourite Traceys Sydney was crowded out early. However, O’Sullivan’s other runner, the 33-1 outsider Nunhead Shiv, caused a major upset by leading all the way to win by three-quarters of a length in 23.86 seconds (+20). Ricky Holloway's Dazl Hermes and Four From Two followed closely.
As a result, Holloway will have four runners in Sunday’s final, aiming to replicate last year’s triumph with Lenson Doolin. Barry O’Sullivan and Allison Kelly-Pilgrim will each have one contender.
In the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Cup heats, Darren Whitton’s Water Lane and Newinn Lotto were victorious, clocking times of 23.48 seconds (+10) and 23.44 seconds (+10), respectively. Additionally, Teresa Dornan’s Ballyboy Sean won the Ladbrokes.com Summer Sprint Maiden Trophy Final with a time of 23.47 seconds (+10).
Sunday’s Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final promises to be an exhilarating event, with a strong lineup and unexpected twists leading up to the decider.