Cheltenham Analysis: Champion Hurdle Challenge

hurricane flyIt’s all set to be an interesting week with some of the highest quality racing coming up at the Cheltenham festival.

Throughout the week I’m going to be giving my take on one of the next days races. Today I’m going to be taking a look at the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge (3:20 Cheltenham – 10/03/15)

Faugheen

Faugheen ridden by Ruby Walsh is the obvious choice to win this race and unsurprisingly the bookies favourite. The horse boasts an outstanding record, 3 time distance winner, winner of Cheltenham’s Novice Hurdle last year and unbeaten in it’s career. However this is Faugheen’s toughest challenge to date and the current odds of 2.25 (betfair) are very short and do not reflect how tough the competition is.

If you are going to bet on Faugheen I would advise you take the current price as I expect the odds to drop even lower tomorrow.

Current Odds: 2.25 Betfair

The New One

This horse has the most experience of Cheltenham out of the 8 runners and has won here 5 times before. The New One has been on good form recently and is unbeaten in it’s last 5 races. This horse is a real danger and definitely in with a shout of winning.

Current Odds: 4.5 General Price

Jezki

Last years winner Jezki is a very good horse but has not been on form lately and has been beaten by Hurricane Fly in the last three hurdles entered. There is no doubt that Jezki is a very good horse but I don’t think Jezki has what it takes to win this years Champions Hurdle.

Current Odds: 5.5 General Price

Hurricane Fly

2013’s winner Hurricane Fly has been on fantastic form recently winning it’s last three grade 1 hurdle races beating both Jezki and Arctic Flyer at Leopardstown in January. I fancy this horse to run well tomorrow and the current odds of 11.00 look good value for an each way bet.

Current Odds: 11.00 Betway

Advised Bets

1pt each way Hurricane Fly @ 11.00 Betway

As Always, Good Luck.

Come back tomorrow for my analysis of the Champion Chase.