12th Mar 2013 | Cheltenham Festival
Champion Hurdle Betting Guide
The last three winners of the Champion Hurdle line-up for a shot at glory. We run the rule over the main protagonists.
Hurricane Fly
Odds: 2/1 Bet365
Season high Racing Post Rating: 172
All-time high RPR: 173
Verdict: Got three runs under his belt this season a much better preparation than last year, when he arrived at the Festival after just one outing. Ratings show he has returned to his best and the one to beat.
Zarkandar
Odds: 7/2 Bet365
Season high RPR: 164
All-time high RPR: 164
Verdict: Twice a course and distance winner, he finished fifth in the race last year but wasn’t physically right. Won seven of his nine starts over hurdles but his performances seem to have plateaued, albeit it on testing ground.
Rock On Ruby
Odds: 5/1 Bet365
Season high RPR: 165
All-time high RPR: 171
Verdict: As defending champion, he has strong claims but he lost to Zarkandar in December and would have lost to the ill-fated Darlan on his last start. The fact Harry Fry reaches for the blinkers, doesn’t inspire confidence.
Grandouet
Odds: 8/1 Bet365
Season high RPR: 162
All-time high RPR: 166
Verdict: Participation had been in doubt after drifting to 40/1 on Betfair. The market suggests his preparation wasn’t straight-forward but Nicky Henderson was pleased with his last piece of work.
Best of the rest: Cinders And Ashes (16/1 Bet365) won last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, therefore he has the ability. Not shown much this year but both his runs have been on heavy ground providing a possible excuse.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 08:58 12th Mar, 2013 but subject to change
