NICKY Henderson has urged punters not to give up on Champion Hurdle hope Pentland Hills.
His star was unbeaten over hurdles last year – winning two Grade 1s – but has yet to get his head in front this season with some now questioning his price for the Festival.
Pentland Hills was beaten by Ballyandy in Grade 2 company last time out despite travelling like the winner much of the way.
He can be backed at 7-1 for the Champion Hurdle, with stablemate Epatante the 4-1 favourite. His trainer won’t run the five-year-old before the Festival gets underway.
Henderson said: “It looks as if we might have to deliver him halfway up the run-in if we are going to win the Champion Hurdle!
“I don’t think I will give him another run (before Cheltenham), because (stablemate) Fusil Raffles will almost certainly go to Wincanton for the Kingwell.
“Pentland Hills has come out of both races he has run in this season as the best horse, but he hasn’t won either of them. Now obviously, that is a concern.
“When he won the Triumph Hurdle and the Grade 1 at Aintree, he just went off and won them. I don’t think there is anything that I need to worry about, but I don’t know.”
