Silver Streak shocks 1-5 favourite Epatante with impressive Christmas Hurdle win

Silver Streak had been the perennial bridesmaid at the top level in the two-mile hurdling division but the gallant grey gained his deserved Grade 1 when dethroning Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The seven-year-old endured a luckless spell this season after being carried out of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle before going down a nose in the International Hurdle last time out.

However, on Saturday the 13-2 chance breezed to victory under a brilliant front-running ride under Adam Wedge from Epatante.

Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle: full result and race replay

The 1-5 favourite flattened the third-last flight and was never able to pick up the leader, who kicked off what could be a big festive period of racing for Wedge, who secured a 40-1 double on the card with Silver Streak's victory, and trainer Evan Williams, who saddles the favourite Secret Reprieve in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Sunday.

"He was as brave as a lion out there for me," said the winning jockey. "Me and Evan were chatting all over Christmas and we thought we had one chance of beating Epatante by taking the race by the scruff of the neck. Thankfully it worked.

"He's fantastic and an absolute gent to do anything with. He has lovely owners and it's a great team effort to get him back from a hard race at Cheltenham like he was today. It was fantastic."

'She'll be back'

Epatante's defeat in her bid to win the race for the second year in a row meant she drifted to 11-4 with Betfair Sportsbook but remains favourite for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while Silver Streak was cut to 12-1 (from 25) for the two-mile championship contest with the same firm.

Epatante's jockey Aidan Coleman was disappointed with the performance and said: "I'm not really sure what went wrong but the winner deserved to win. Just from turning in that usual burst of speed she usually has wasn't there today for some reason. But listen, she'll be back.

Asked if the mistake at the last in the back straight cost her he added: "No, not at all."

Saturday results and replays

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