Sublimity wins Champion Hurdle

Updated 16.07 Tue Mar 13 2007
Keywords: Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Champion Hurdle, Sublimity, racing, sport, Cheltenham Festival, Afsoun

Sublimity has won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham after surging past previous winners Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca on the home straight.

Philip Carberry rode the French mount to victory at odds of 16-1, beating Brave Inca by three lengths and Afsoun edged out Hardy Eustace to claim third place.

"He is the best horse I have ever ridden or ever likely to" - Philip Carberry

Carberry said: "I couldn't believe how well he was travelling going down to the last.

"What a horse, he is the best horse I've ever ridden or ever likely to.

"He's beaten some fantastic horses in the shape of Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace, but he has beaten them on merit."

Sublimity looked on course to claim third place with one hurdle left, but gathered momentum over the obstacle and looked a winner for most of the final furlong.

Sublimity's owner Bill Hennessy said: "I'm speechless, I'm going to pinch myself to make sure it's real! What a dream, it's fantastic.

"We wanted to buy decent horses off the Flat and this one was with Sir Michael Stoute.

"He won a Listed race on the Flat for us and we knew he was a serious horse."

Detroit City started the race as 6-4 favourite but but baffled trainer Philip Hobbs by dropping off as the race progressed.

He said: "Obviously we don't know at this stage what went wrong, but Richard Johnson got off him and said he was not himself.

"We are very disappointed, there may be something amiss but we will see how he is and watch him closely.

"He normally travels OK, even off a fast pace, but he couldn't keep up with them."

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