Hurricane Fly is hot favourite to regain the Champion Hurdle crown after two hugely impressive victories at Leopardstown. He won the race in 2011 but was surprisingly only third behind Rock On Ruby last year when sent off the 4-6 favourite. That remains his only defeat in his last 12 races so it is no surprise to see him dominating the betting market. The form of his most recent victory was not exactly boosted when Thousand Stars flopped badly on his next start, a defeat attributed to the heavy ground.
Rock On Ruby did not really get the credit he deserved for last year’s victory. Enterprisingly ridden by Noel Fehily, he was given a beautiful lead by eventual runner-up Overturn and made his stamina tell up the Cheltenham hill. He has been campaigned with this race in mind again this season and saw off the useful Countrywide Flame at Doncaster last time out. That race was marred by the fatal injury to Darlan but both Rock On Ruby and Countrywide Flame look set to run big races in the Champion. The latter gave Cinders And Ashes a comprehensive beating at Newcastle and was not suited by Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle. Donald McCain is optimistic that better ground will see Cinders And Ashes return to the form that enabled him to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year but it is difficult to see him reversing Newcastle form.
Zarkandar was fancied to run well last year but ran a strange race, losing his position before running on powerfully up the hill to finish fifth. Trainer Paul Nicholls maintains that he was never really happen with him last year and he cannot be faulted on three comfortable victories this season. The most significant of those may be the International Hurdle at Cheltenham where he defeated a ring-rusty Grandouet by two lengths. Zarkandar gives the impression that he will have to do it the hard way if he is to win the Champion and it will be a surprise if he isn’t ridden up with the pace this year. Nicky Henderson has not been able to get another race into Grandouet and some still question his resilience if it comes down to real battle. Henderson has been at pains to make sure that 2010 winner Binocular is not overlooked whilst he will only run Oscar Whisky if the going is soft.
Cotton Mill could do best of the rest if he is allowed to take his chance. There was a lot to like about his seasonal reappearance when he chased home the impressive My Tent Or Yours in the ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle. Khyber Kim finished second to Binocular in 2010 and had his first race for almost two years when chasing home Zarkandar at Wincanton. That run was not at all bad, especially considering that he completely missed the last flight of hurdles.
Summary
Hurricane Fly is regarded by many as one of the banker bets of the meeting but 7-4 looks short for a horse beaten last year. Zarkandar and Rock On Ruby will be looking to run the finish out of the favourite and that could suit Countrywide Flame. As he showed when winning last year’s Triumph Hurdle, he is best suited by a fast run race and he could prove to be excellent each-way value.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
