Oscars could Well be the only one to live with Hurricane Fly
NO Champion Hurdle winner has set the pulse racing as much as Istabraq in the past 20 years, but some would argue that Hurricane Fly has the potential to be even greater. The 10-time Grade One winning hurdler has had some niggling problems during his career, but when on his game, he is breathtaking.
Last year’s Champion Hurdle was widely regarded as one of the strongest renewals in recent memory, yet Peddlers Cross was the only one to give Willie Mullins’ son of Montjeu a moment’s worry. Hurricane Fly then went on to annihilate his rivals in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, before silencing his doubters in last weekend’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown following a lengthy break.
Blue Square offer a best price 10/11 about Hurricane Fly going on to land back-to-back ‘Champions’ and he will be much shorter on the day if he lines up and the vibes are positive. He is an incredibly special horse and as long as he remains healthy, I think they’re all playing for second place.
Grandouet and Zarkandar are next in the betting and although last year’s Triumph form is working out well, five-year-olds have a poor record in this race. Binocular was hardly impressive when beating Rock On Ruby in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and it is OSCARS WELL who looks the each-way value in the race for me.
Jessica Harrington is a brilliant trainer who has tasted plenty of success at Cheltenham in the past. She won last year’s RSA Chase with Bostons Angel and Oscars Well would have come very close to winning the Neptune had he not stumbled on landing after the last.
He had been slightly disappointing this season prior to his excellent run behind ‘the Fly’ last weekend in terrible conditions. However, his trainer said he would improve for better ground and a fast run two miles is exactly what Oscars Well needs. I would be very surprised if he can beat Hurricane Fly, but he is decent each-way value at 14/1 with Coral. That said, an even better bet might be to take the 13/2 Paddy Power offer in the without Hurricane Fly market, again each-way.
The Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle is the penultimate race of the Wednesday and it is a contest that trainers like to target with their juveniles who are a tad below Triumph Hurdle standard. Arthur Moore landed the prize with the well-handicapped What A Charm last year and Alan King has come out and said that VENDOR will be going straight for this race.
That is the key thing for me, as one impressive performance against inferior rivals in the lead up to the Festival can ruin a handicap mark. Nicky Henderson was confident of landing this prize last year with A Media Luz, but she went up an incredible 18lb for winning an egg and spoon race at Huntingdon in imperious style.
Alan King is a brilliant trainer of juveniles – his three runners in this race last year finished second, third and fifth – and the fact that he’s protecting Vendor’s mark speaks volumes. The grey gelding won really well on his debut for the yard at Newbury on New Year’s Eve, despite losing momentum at the final flight. He’s available at 8/1 with William Hill and I expect him to be half that price come the day.
I’m not going to spend too much time on this weekend’s jumps action as the weather seems to be catching up with us. The highlight from a betting point of view is Sandown’s Betfred and Levy Board Heroes Handicap Hurdle (3.05pm). Paul Nicholls has won three of the last five runnings, so it is understandable that his Sonofvic has been well backed this week.
The seven-year-old made a hugely promising chasing debut behind Grands Crus, only to disappoint when favourite at Cheltenham last time. He could be on an extremely handy mark here back over hurdles, but he will have his work cut out to beat the Lanzarote winner SWINCOMBE FLAME.
Nick Williams nearly pulled off the Lanzarote-Heroes double 12 months ago with Alfie Spinner and I fancy him to go one better this time around. The six-year-old mare was a gutsy winner at Kempton and although this is a hotter race, she only has to carry 10st.
It could be a good day for Williams, if the weather behaves, as FOR NON STOP looks a notch above his rivals in the Scilly Isles Chase (2.30pm).
I received a press release yesterday telling me that Katherine Jenkins will be singing the National Anthem to the Queen at Epsom on Investec Derby Day which falls on Saturday 2nd June. The sunshine at Epsom seems a long way off during this cold snap. You can follow me on Twitter @BillEsdaile.
POINTERS…
OSCARS WELL (w/o Hurricane Fly) 13/2 e/w Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham
VENDOR 8/1 e/w Fred Winter, Cheltenham
FOR NON STOP 2.30pm Sandown tomorrow
SWINCOMBLE FLAME 5/1 3.05pm Sandown tomorrow