Champion Hurdle Antepost Betting Guide

There are question marks surrounding all the leading contenders for the Champion Hurdle. We look at the antepost market to see where the value lies.

Hurricane Fly
Odds: 9/4 (Coral)
YouTube: Rabobank Champion Hurdle
Won 11 out of 13 hurdle starts and is the reigning champion. He is the best horse in the contest but has not raced since May 2011. Due to run in the Irish Champion Hurdle on the 29th January; if he wins he could go off evens for the Champion Hurdle.
Verdict at the current odds: Small back.

Grandouet
Odds: 15/2 (Sportingbet)
Looked impressive when winning the International Hurdle in December but he is still a novice. Under the pressure of facing a big field and better horses the Champion Hurdle could expose his inexperience.
Verdict at the current odds: Oppose.

Zarkandar
Odds: 8/1 (Coral)
The Grandouet argument can also be made for Zarkandar, except we have not even seen him this season. He looked exciting when beating Unaccompanied and Grandouet in the JCB Hurdle at the last Festival but this is a completely different prospect. Taking 8/1 on a horse we know little about seems an unnecessary risk. 
Verdict at the current odds: Oppose.

Spirit Son
Odds: 8/1 (Betfred)
YouTube: Supreme Novices Hurdle 2011
Not seen since April when winning at Aintree, he is another risky betting proposition. In his favour, he is a year older than Grandouet and Zarkandar and ran a cracker in defeat in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Verdict at the current odds: No Bet.

Binocular
Odds: 10/1 (Coral)
YouTube: Christmas Hurdle
The 2010 Champion Hurdle winner has experience in his favour. A multiple Grade 1 winner, he has shown the ability in the top races. However, he does have the tendency to run below par inexplicably. He was perhaps fortunate to win at Kempton on Boxing Day and AP McCoy hinted that the horse suffers from constant niggles and is very hard to get spot on.
Verdict at the current odds: No Bet – Correct price.

Zaidpour
Odds: 50/1 (William Hill)
YouTube: Tara Hurdle
Twelve months ago, Zaidpour had the world at his feet; he was topping the betting for the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle and was basking in the glory of a marvellous victory in the Royal Bond Hurdle. Things quickly unravelled after a string of poor performances, culminating in a disappointing 7th place finish at the Festival.

However, with two wins already this season, he is a horse on the comeback trail. Speaking to the Racing Post, trainer Willie Mullins was buoyed by his performances saying, “I think he’s starting to do what we thought he might do last year [2010]; he’s keeping his action a lot better.”

If this is true, and the evidence of his wins suggests so, then the 50/1 with William Hill for the Champion Hurdle must be snapped up. He is a horse who has the gears to make an impact in the race and can finally fulfil his huge promise.
Verdict at the current odds: Back.