Celestial Halo claims National Spirit Hurdle ahead of Karabak
The Grade 2 event of the Totesport National Spirit Hurdle was held over an extensive distance of two miles and four furlongs at Fontwell on Sunday. Only horses of age four years and above were allowed to participate in the fixture.
Celestial Halo braved through the rain at Fontwell to take his first victory since November 2009, leaving rival and last year’s National Spirit Hurdle winner, Trenchant, well behind.
Although the weather was tough and the rain was unforgiving, Celestial Halo persevered through the harsh conditions, tracking Asfoun and keeping a good grip on his pace under his jockey Harry Skelton. Trenchant and Spirit Hurdle favourite Karabak, who are
both trained by Alan King, followed Celestial Halo from a distance.
The contestants of the race were able to make it through the first circuit without much difficulty. However, at the fifth hurdle of the second circuit Karabak’s landing turned out to be a bit shaky, causing him to slip and force rider Tony McCoy up his neck.
That resulted in the two falling to the back of the field. Eventually, Karabak managed to join the group of hurdlers at the home turn, but he was still unable to pose much of a threat down the home straight.
Meanwhile, Celestial Halo blazed past the others and was easily able to cross the last hurdle and continued to run up the Fontwell Hill towards victory by a distance of six lengths. Meanwhile former race winner, Trenchant, chased in vain and managed to end
up in second place.
Celestial Halo is seven years of age and is currently under the care of famed trainer Paul Nicholls. The horse is listed in the entries for both the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. His owner Andy Stewart
though, believes that the horse is most likely to forgo the festival in favour of Aintree.
Stewart has said that Celestial Halo will stay in the World Hurdle until the five-day declaration stage, in case unforeseen circumstances arise for Big Buck’s. The owner has also said that since the horse has been performing rather well, he hopes to enter
him for the Aintree Hurdle.
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