The Betfair Hurdle has always been one of the top handicap hurdles of the season. It is still fondly remembered by the older generation as “The Schweppes” and has since been equally acclaimed as the Tote Gold Trophy.
The race is often won by a high-class hurdler with names like Deep Sensation, Large Action, Mysilv, Make A Stand and Landing Light bringing back fond memories. More recently the race was won by Zarkandar and My Tent Or Yours, both Champion Hurdle class.
The quality of entry does not look quite up to that grade this year with Garde La Victoire topping the weights ahead of the veteran Get Me Out Of Here and Nicky Henderson’s Sign Of A Victory. Henderson has won this race five times and Sign Of A Victory is one of five entries from the Lambourn yard.
His latest press conference suggested that Sign Of A Victory would run provided the going is not soft but I’d have to say that seems unlikely. He does not believe that Snake Eyes will get into the race but put in a good word for Haydock winner Vasco Du Ronceray. The six-year-old is not exactly thrown in at the weights having been raised 8lbs for his latest success but still has scope for improvement.
He finished fifth in the Triumph Hurdle in 2013, the year of the ill-fated Our Conor. He wore a hood for the first time that day and carried the headgear when winning easily at Haydock in November. The grey could be worth an each-way bet at 33-1, a price that would soon disappear if Henderson’s main fancy were to be withdrawn.
I also like the claims of Activial, trained by Harry Fry. He is very lightly-raced having swerved the festival meeting in March in favour of Aintree. I was disappointed with his run there when only eighth to Guitar Pete but he showed his true form in the Ladbroke. He was well-fancied for the Ascot race and looked to have every chance until fitness told in the closing stages. Fry believes that he may eventually prove better at two and a half miles but Newbury’s long galloping straight should be ideal. He is still available at 10-1 in places.
The ante-post favourite is Calipto, trained by Paul Nicholls. He was unlucky in last year’s Triumph Hurdle when his rider’s stirrup leather broke and finished ahead of Activial at Aintree. He may have raced too keenly when beaten at Cheltenham in October and has been well backed for this race. He still holds a Champion Hurdle entry but I think any value has gone at around 5-1.
Activial @10-1 888Sport, Sportingbet
Vasco Du Ronceray @33-1 Betfair
Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4
