Horse Racing Betting Tips: Apple’s can prevent Buveur D’Air winning for a third time

WHEN BUVEUR D’AIR routed the highly-regarded Samcro on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle back in December, a third Champion Hurdle victory appeared almost inevitable.

That was his 11th straight win over hurdles since switching back from chasing and the big young pretender had failed to lay a glove on him.

However, the shock defeat that followed in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton removed that air of invincibility and the crown now sits less comfortably on his head.

Even though Buveur D’Air returned to winning ways with a confidence booster at Sandown last month, the race has taken on a new look with the emergence of two talented Irish mares as his main rivals.

Both had the option of taking on their own sex in this afternoon’s Mares’ Hurdle, but the handy 7lb allowance is one of the factors that has convinced them to have a crack at the big one.

Since the mares’ allowance was increased from 5lbs to 7lbs just over a decade ago, only four have tried, but they include Annie Power who won this back in 2016.

She became the first mare to land the opening day feature since Flakey Dove in 1994 and proved what can be done in receipt of such a healthy allowance.

APPLE’S JADE was unquestionably out of sorts for most of last season and connections have blamed last season’s flop in the Mares’ Hurdle on her being in season.

That performance is a distant memory, though, as she has bounced back this campaign with four blistering performances.

Since her brilliant reappearance victory at Navan last November, she has made a mockery of her opposition in three consecutive Grade One contests.

The latest of those victories came when dropped back to this two mile trip at Leopardstown last month when winning the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Up to that point, her connections had been adamant that she would head to the Mares’ Hurdle whatever the result, but a 16-length winning margin has forced them to switch targets.

Those that want to oppose her will point to the fact she has never really been at her best at this track, and that she appears to jump out a little to her right.

Those are both valid points, but the comprehensive nature of her victories this season simply puts her ahead of her rivals here despite those quirks.

She is a brilliant mare who comes here in the form of her life and the recent rain will put emphasis on stamina which she has in abundance.

Plenty will fancy Willie Mullins’ Laurina – who is unbeaten in all six starts for the Irish Champion trainer – on her return to the scene of her effortless 18-length Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle victory 12 months ago.

However, she only has one Grade One victory to her name compared to Apple’s Jade’s 10 top flight successes and has yet to prove herself against top class opposition.

She has plenty of talent and you have to respect her connections, but she gives her hurdles plenty of air and I think she will lack the zip of the big guns.

Every drop of rain that falls certainly won’t help the other mare Verdana Blue who claimed the scalp of Buveur D’Air at Kempton, while last year’s runner-up Melon has been woeful so far this campaign.

Espoir D’Allen could run well at double figure odds and defy the poor record of five-year-olds, but I’m going to side with SHARJAH at a big price to pick up the final place.

The recent rain isn’t ideal as he’s been pretty impressive on a sound surface at both Leopardstown and Punchestown on both his last two starts.

He did, however, win the Galway Hurdle off a big weight on soft ground last summer and may just be over-priced at around 16/1.

His course form isn’t great either, but he’s looked a different horse this season and is worth another chance.

BILL ESDAILE’S UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE 1-2-3

1 APPLE’S JADE

2 BUVEUR D’AIR

3 SHARJAH