Barry O’Sullivan celebrated his first Champion Hurdle win as Nunhead Shiv narrowly defeated the favoured Harlequin Ernie in the Ladbrokes-sponsored event at Crayford on Sunday. O’Sullivan, who has trained numerous Champion Hurdle finalists and winners at his Fawkham schooling track, had yet to claim victory in this prestigious race until Nunhead Shiv's surprising win in the £10,000 final.
Nunhead Shiv, a 12-1 underdog, faced four contenders trained by Ricky Holloway, including the 5-4 favourite Harlequin Ernie. Quickly gaining momentum, Nunhead Shiv positioned second on the outside, just behind Harlequin Ernie. The pair led the 380m race from the start, with Harlequin Ernie maintaining a slight lead until the final bends.
As the race reached its climax, Nunhead Shiv, owned by Austin McNamara, closed the gap and surged past Harlequin Ernie at the finish line, securing victory by the slimmest margin with a time of 23.54 seconds.
Crayford racing manager Danny Rayment expressed his joy for the O’Sullivan family, remarking on their significant contribution to schooling greyhounds over hurdles. He noted the irony that Barry O’Sullivan, whose family inspired Ricky Holloway, thwarted Holloway’s bid for a seventh Champion Hurdle win. Rayment praised both Harlequin Ernie and Nunhead Shiv for delivering an exceptional race.
Highlighting Nunhead Shiv's achievement, Rayment pointed out that the senior performer, not only the oldest competitor in the final, also became one of the rare female winners of the Champion Hurdle. He credited her extensive experience on both hurdles and flat tracks for her remarkable performance when it mattered most.