Evan Williams targeting more Welsh Champion Hurdle success with Clyne

4.15 Ffos Las
Low Cost Vans Welsh Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) 2m | 3yo+ | Sky

The Welsh Champion Hurdle is Ffos Las’s richest prize of the season and carries an illustrious roll of honour, with The New One, Saphir Du Rheu and Oscar Whisky among the winners since the race moved from Chepstow in 2011.

Evan Williams won the £50,000 prize with subsequent Champion Hurdle third Silver Streak last year and relies on Clyne, who gave The New One a good run for his money in the 2017 renewal and has Grade 1 placed form over further.

Clyne: finished second in the 2017 Welsh Champion Hurdle behind The New One

Williams said: "He’s grand, we just thought the ground might be somewhere near how he likes it. The trip is short enough for him but the ground might compensate for that if we get a drop of rain.

"His Grade 1 form is over longer and that looks good in the context of a handicap, but it will be on the sharp side for him.

KEY STAT
Five of the seven horses to win the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las carried 11st 3lb or higher. Only Mohaayed, Le Prezien and Clyne will do so this year.

"He’s an easy horse to get fit and easy horse to train full stop; he’s been a very good horse over the years."

Le Prezien and Mohaayed finished second and fourth 12 months ago and return to West Wales for another stab at the 2m limited handicap. Imperial Cup second Monsieur Lecoq, former Gordon Elliott inmate Tombstone and hardy veteran Man Of Plenty are also in the 11-runner field.

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