Espoir the surprise winner, but nothing new for McManus

For the third consecutive year, the fifth time in the last 10 runnings, and a record ninth time in total, the familiar green and gold colours of JP McManus were carried to victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle. This, however, was surely the most surprising, won in tremendous fashion by Espoir D’Allen.

A maiden Festival success for trainer Gavin Cromwell and just a second for leading jockey Mark Walsh, the winner belied his tender age of five to come out on top in a race billed as a battle of the big three: Buveur D’Air, Apple’s Jade, and Laurina. There were crucial inflection points aplenty, right from the outset. Last year’s runner-up, Melon, jumped off in company with Apple’s Jade, who made a mistake at the second hurdle and was clearly lacking her usual zest thereafter.