Arctic Fire Favourite For Aintree Hurdle

Reigning Aintree Hurdle champion The New One misses the Grand National meeting after sustaining a spinal injury meaning that Arctic Fire is free to go off the favourite for the Aintree Hurdle, currently available at 2/1 at bet365 and a number of other bookmakers. The Willie Mullins charge will be looking to take home the 2m, 4f Grade One after just missing out in all of his last four efforts at Grade One level.

The six-year-old was not the favourite for any of these encounters and managed to get on the premises at big prices. His season has so far culminated in his second place in the Cheltenham Festival`s Champion Hurdle, finishing just under two lengths off of odds-on favourite Faugheen despite being a 20/1 outsider.

As all of his efforts over hurdles have been at 2m, the Soldier Hollow-sired charge may find himself somewhat lost by the extra half-a-mile. There is no clue in his breeding whether he will be able to make this small step up and faces a field that includes rivals with much more experience. There may well also be an issue regarding whether or not conditions will suit, having never won over anything softer than good-yielding.

Who will be looking to upset the Mullins party then? Arctic Fire`s nearest market rival is Jessica Harrington`s Jezki who can be backed at 5/2 (bet365).

The former Champion Hurdle winner shares plenty of form with the favourite this season, not least when finishing six lengths off the Mullins charge in the 2015 renewal of the Champion Hurdle. This reinforced the form recorded in Leopardstown`s Irish Champion Hurdle that saw Arctic Fire snatch second place from Jezki by over four lengths, itself a reversal of what had happened on their previous outing at the same grade, course and distance. This form seems strong enough to suggest that Arctic Fire is the more likely Aintree Hurdle winner, though a victory for Jezki will be down to that horse`s proven ability over soft ground. Unlike tomorrow`s favourite, the JP McManus-owened charge has also won over this distance, it not being too unlikely for him to record a victory on his first run back over 20f.

Next in the market is Rock On Ruby who is heading back to the Aintree Hurdle after a third place finish in this race in 2012 and a second place finish in 2014. The best price of 7/2, available at bet365, Betvictor and Willliam Hill, says that the Harry Fry mount will be able to go one better this time round.

Having only run three times this season and not at all since January, Rock On Ruby should be more than fresh enough for Aintree. Indeed, two of these runs have been comprehensive wins over this distance, something that puts him head and shoulders above his competition in this regard. The 160-rated Oscar-sired mount of The Festival Goers put over two lengths between himself and fellow Aintree Hurdle rival Volnay De Thaix in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle before sealing Cheltenham`s Dornan Engineering Hurdle by the same sort of margin. His proven course experience also sets the elder statesman of the field apart from his opposition tomorrow, his runs in this race following a third place spot in the 2011 Grade Two Mersey Novices` Hurdle. Conditions should also be as perfect as you can get for this horse.

Elsewhere, Blue Heron looks to cause another upset after seeing off Irving by six lengths in Wincanton`s Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle. Dan Skelton`s charge is available at 12/1 at bet365. The outsider of the field is Melodic Rendezvous, back hurdling after his disappointing chasing efforts. Owned by Cash For Honours, the nine-year-old is up for grabs at 25/1 at bet365.

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08/04/2015     © Frixo 2024