Cheltenham 2014 : Our Conor the best bet in Champion Hurdle

HORSE RACING/CHELTENHAM CHAMPION HURDLE/

While the Gold Cup is the race that attracts the most viewers and the most media interest for many Racing aficionados it is the Champion Hurdle that is the highlight of the Festival. Here is our guide to the runners and riders for the big race on Tuesday (15:20).

It is The New One and Hurricane Fly who are battling it out to go off as favourites in the Champion Hurdle. The latter won the race last year and will look to make it back-to-back victories and become only the sixth horse to win the race three times, the latest of which was Istabraq in 98, 99, 00. The Willie Mullins runner has won 21 races over hurdles and has never finished finished out of the first three in 24 starts over the smaller obstacles. The jury is out on just how strong the race was last year with some sighting the two and a half length victory as a sign of a weak field and others as how good the Fly is. If Hurricane wins this time out then you can add him to the elite, but I would not want to back him at around 11/4-3-1.

The biggest rival to the two-time champion is expected to be The New One who has won six of his nine hurdle races. The six-year-old has three wins and a second from the last four Cheltenham starts so clearly loves the course. The Nigel Twiston-Davies runner seems to have followed the same path as Rock on Ruby who won this in 2012 and was the first winner for 19 years not to have been given a prep race before Christmas. That being said they are two horses underneath the pair who will go off at bigger prices that have enough about them to take on the market leaders and I think these represent better value. The first is My Tent or Yours with the JP McManus owned mount winning six of eight over hurdles and finishing runner-up in the other two. The Nicky Henderson runner has won the last four and saw off The New One at Kempton in December yet is expeted to go off at a bigger price. In terms of Cheltenham form the seven-year-old came second to Champagne Fever last year when going off as favourite in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The selection though is Our Conor as I really like the look of this runner. The Dessie Hughes trained five-year-old won by 15 lengths in the Triumph Hurdle last season following a season plan designed to make him peak at just the right time and I expect more of the same this season. Hughes is a smart trainer and his mount ran Hurricane Fly down to one and half lengths in a race last time out and with the stronger pace at Cheltenham expected to suit more. I think that Our Conor could be set to peak at the right time and hand the trainer his first Champion Hurdle success since Hardy Eustance in 2004 and 2005.

Of the others Jezki could be dangerous with seven wins from ten over hurdles and came third in the Supreme Novices last year though a disappointing last placed finish on the last run is a concern as last time out failers to not tend to do so well. Annie Power would be a contender though Willie Mullins runner is more likely to go off in the World Hurdle.

At a bigger price you could make a case for Melodic Rendezvous especially if the rain comes. The Jeremy Scott runner is being overlooked a little because this is not the most fashionable yard though a record of six wins from his last seven starts over hurdles has to be respected. A record of five wins from five runs on heavy surfaces means that if the heavens open then you should be pouring on this horse.

RECOMMENDATION: Our Conor to win the Champion Hurdle (best price)
Melodic Rendezvous EW if it rains (best price)

Go To bet365

#Ad

08/03/2014     © Frixo 2026