CHELTENHAM REPORT: DAY 1 TUESDAY

Espoir D’Allen sweeps to Champions Hurdle success

THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Espoir D’Allen ran out a shock 16/1 winner of the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Festival.
The five-year-old son of Voix Du Nord travelled menacingly into contention approaching the turn for home and ran on strongly in the home straight, producing a superb leap at the last to register a bloodless 15-length success under Mark Walsh, registering his second victory at The Festival overall.
The Willie Mullins-trained Melon (20/1) was back in second with a n...