Cheltenham Preview Week Two

As I said last week, this betting blog will be previewing the big championship races at Cheltenham over the coming weeks and after last week’s Arkle preview we move onto the feature of day one the Champion Hurdle. This is always a thrilling spectacle with the fastest 2 mile hurdlers in the country going at a breakneck speed throughout and always produces a true champion.

This year’s renewal looks no exception with reigning champion Hurricane Fly heading the market at around the 2/1 mark. This horse was exceptional last year and went the season unbeaten culminating in success at the big Punchestown festival in Ireland after his victory at Cheltenham. This year however he has not been sighted on the racecourse and his trainer Willie Mullins has withdrawn him on a number of occasions in the week leading up to his seasonal debut.

There has obviously been some niggling problem and until he is seen in action again I wouldn’t want to be backing him at around the 2/1 mark even though he is the class horse in the race.

Of the others at the head of the market Spirit Son and Zarkander are also unraced this season and to me Grandouet doesn’t look good enough and you can never tell which Binocular(the 2010 champion) is going to turn up.

Now for my gambling advice. With negatives surrounding many of the market leaders I can see this race being won by an outsider very similar to when Hardy Eustace won at 33/1.The one that catches my eye at the moment is Unaccompanied at around 16/1. He ran a stormer at the festival last year to be second to Zarkander in the Triumph hurdle and seems to be coming to the boil quite nicely this year with a facile victory in November before going on to win the Grade 1 Istabraq hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Of the others I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brampour run a huge race (if he turns up)at around the 50/1 mark. This horse won the Greatwood hurdle at the Paddy Power meeting over course and distance under a big weight and this is often a good pointer to the Champion Hurdle even though he has been beaten twice since I can still see him bouncing back and being one of the horses that can belie his odds.

My Big Bets

2pts each way Unaccompanied @ 16/1

1pt each way Brampour @ 50/1