Cheltenham Festival 2015: Champion Hurdle preview (15:20)

Reigning champ Jezki holds outstanding claims of winning a cracking renewal of the Champion Hurdle (15.20) in the hands of 19-times champion jockey AP McCoy.

Trained by Jessica Harrington, this gelding stayed on strongly to beat My Tent Or Yours 12 months ago and went on to follow-up at Punchestown when easily getting the better of Hurricane Fly.

The seven-year-old has finished runner-up twice to the The Fly this season, and looked held when blundering at the last and finishing third behind Willie Mullins’ star last time out in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

However, Jezki is a spring horse and has had his whole campaign geared around defending his crown.

Harrington is sure to have him absolutely spot-on for today’s assignment, and it is a major plus that he has actually been there, done it, and got the t-shirt at the highest level.

Horses that have previously performed well in the Champion Hurdle have gone on to do so again, and the fact McCoy rates Jezki his best chance of getting a winner during the four-day meeting also speaks volumes.

The obvious dangers are the unbeaten Faugheen and last year’s third The New One.

Faugheen represents the powerful Willie Mullins stable and is favourite to land the spoils after running out the facile winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

That was the gelding’s seventh straight win over the obstacles, and his CV includes an easy success in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago.

The seven-year-old oozes class, stays well and has a high cruising speed and potent turn of foot.