Hidden Cyclone an each-way contender to consider for Champion Chase

20 career starts and 17 top-three finishes. It is fair to say that Hidden Cyclone has been an each-way friend to punters throughout his racing career so far, whether it be over hurdles or fences.

Hidden Cyclone started his career over 2m, before some attempts over longer distances, which have brought some mixed results. In fact, all three unplaced efforts have come over trips of 2m4f or further.

A second-place finish in the Ryanair Chase behind Dynaste does suggest that Hidden Cyclone does have the stamina to see out a longer trip, although few can argue that he clearly weakened after the final fence.

Bearing in mind that Dynaste doesn’t have the biggest reputation for fast finishes either, it does seem that a drop in trip would help Hidden Cyclone find greater success and a first at Grade 1 level.

Hidden Cyclone has now endured the bad luck of three successive runner-up finishes at the highest level after his Festival second to Dynaste.

The second of these came behind Champion Chase victor Sire De Grugy, where some sloppy jumping largely resulted in the beaten distance stretching to 11 lengths.

A quicker early pace to that day would play to Hidden Cyclone’s strengths and a crack at the 2015 Champion Chase would make logical sense, given the lack of star names seemingly in that division at present.

Aside from Sire De Grugy, Sprinter Sacre is far from guaranteed to return to his best next season and the novice crop from the Arkle who are likely to remain in the 2m division are nothing special.

Hidden Cyclone does travel well and assuming he jumps soundly on the whole, he must have worthy each-way claims for the 2015 Champion Chase.

It is Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy that head the betting for that race, with both available at 3/1.