Donald McCain’s high quality dual purpose performer Overturn looks an unlikely starter in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day having had three tough races in just over a month culminating with another rock solid performance in finishing runner-up to Grandouet in the Grade2 Stanjames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham last week, writes Elliot Slater.

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Overturn lost little in defeat in going down with all guns blazing to Nicky Henderson’s charge who beat him four-lengths but who received four-pounds from the runner-up. With Grandouet appearing to be one of the main dangers to defending champion Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March the form of the race looks absolutely rock solid, the first two home finishing ahead of the tremendously progressive Brampour and last year’s very smart hurdler Menorah.

Having spoken at length with Overturn’s regular rider Jason Maguire, McCain believes that the Tim Leslie-owned gelding has earned himself a short break and is unlikely to ask the son of Barathea to step up to the plate yet again to take on the last year’s winner Binocular in the feature Christmastime two-mile contest. Anyone looking at the Kempton Park betting odds should remember this. The Cheshire-based trainer has instead pencilled in a trip to Haydock in mid-January for the Champion Hurdle Trial as the most likely next outing for a horse who has been kept busy throughout the 2011 racing calendar. The prices on online horse betting websites no reflect this.

Having finished runner-up to Binocular in last season’s Christmas Hurdle Overturn gained his revenge on the former champion hurdler when beating him with something to spare at Newcastle last month in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle, a victory that followed only seven days after having landed the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot. With the Champion Hurdle itself now reported to be the target for the bold front-runner bookmakers now rate Overturn a bets priced 20/1 shot to make all in the blue riband event in three months time.