 Starting at a shade of odds on (10/11), he won despite it being his first race in more than eight months.Alderbrook was the clear favourite at 10/11 for the 1996 Champion Hurdle and strongly expected to retain his title against a field thought to be inferior to that of 1995.The weather in the days leading up to the race was very wet, and the race took place on ground officially good to soft, but considered softer.