in the champion hurdle at cheltenham, jezki was ridden by geraghty as mccoy had opted to ride the nicky henderson-trained my tent or yours who was also owned by j p mcmanus. wearing a hood for the first time he started the 9/1 fifth choice in the betting behind hurricane fly, my tent or yours the new one and our conor. all nine of the runners were previous grade i winners. geraghty tracked the leaders before sending jezki up to take the lead from the pacemaker captain cee bee at the second last. he first repelled a challenge from hurricane fly and then held off the late run of my tent or yours to claim the championship by a neck. the new one finished strongly to take third, two and a half lengths further back. only hurricane fly and the outsider steps to freedom appeared to oppose jezki when he started 4/5 favourite for the racing post champion hurdle at punchestown on 2 may. ridden by mccoy, he took the lead from the start and held off a challenge from hurricane fly at the last hurdle to win by three and three-quarter lengths.