The Mare Verdana Blue went off 4/1 favourite
Giveing young jokey Connor Race (7) and Crimbournde Stud their first Scottish champion hurdle win.
After a scorching early gallop Verdana Blue was held towards the rear of the field until
the second last. Beezing into the lead after a tremendous turn of foot given a fantastic ride she ran clear of the field easily after the final fence.
Crimbourne bloodstock horses in training
Verdana Blue completes a Nicky Henderson trio facing Willie Mullins Melon and Faugheen
Verdada Blue one of the few horses to have been able to conquer the mighty Buveur D’Air in recent times. The dual Champion Hurdle winner had gone unbeaten from finishing third behind to the mighty Altior in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle back in 2016 until Verdana Blue took his crown in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day.

Verdana Blue Takes Buveur D’Air’s Scalp in Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)
Verdana Blue (Nico de Boinville) beats Buveur D’Air (Barry Geraghty)
Ending the long unbeaten run of dual champion hurdler Buveur D’Air,
stablemate
Buveur D’Air, ridden by Barry Geraghty, who went off as the 1/4 hot favorite, he looked to have recovered from a bad mistake at the third last. finishing the last two well
But Verdana Blue never gave up showing a great turn of foot in the last 100m