Home / Horse Racing / Menorah And Hurricane Fly Well Backed For Opening Day Feature Race At Cheltenham Festival

Reigning champion Binocular hot favourite in the betting for Champion Hurdle renewal

Reigning champion Binocular heads the ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. The 2010 winner is an industry best of 7/2 with Bet365 as Nicky Henderson looks for a third successive win in the Tuesday feature race. He faces stiff competition though with the likes of Menorah, Hurricane Fly and Peddlers Cross also well backed.

Binocular emerged a surprise winner last year after nearly being withdrawn two weeks before the race but the 9/1 ante-post punt saw off the challenge of Khyber Kim with ease come raceday. The 7-year-old had looked sluggish leading up to last year's Festival but it bodes well for his connections that he has looked so sharp this term when winning the Christmas Hurdle. There is a theory that Binocular jumps better as the weather gets warmer and judging by the slickness of his jumping this term he is the standout horse and the one to beat this year.

The challengers to Binocular's crown will have to produce a strong jumping performance over the eight hurdles and Philip Hobbs' Menorah is one worth keeping an eye out for. The 6-year-old won the Supreme Novices by a head from Get Me Out Of Here at Cheltenham Festival last year and has now won three from three starts at Cheltenham. The International Hurdle and Greatwood Hurdle winner has enjoyed a fine season to date and is available at 9/2 in the betting with B365.

Another 9/2 punt is the Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly, who has been so impressive in Ireland over the past few years. He has consistently beaten Solwhit of late but has yet to be tested on English ground against the likes of Menorah and co, and a criticism has been levelled at Mullins that he is yet to take on a larger field. The Hatton's Grace winner has yet to run at Cheltenham as well and it will be interesting to see how he copes with the famous Cheltenham hill and the strong field in the Champion Hurdle.

Elsewhere, Donald McCain's Peddlers Cross has been well backed and is priced at a tempting 5/1 by Bet365.com bookmakers. The 5-year-old has looked good over two miles and two and a half miles, and the fact he is such a strong stayer bodes well for his ability to last the distance up the Cheltenham hill. He also has the notable feather in his cap of beating Binocular at Newbury in November to maintain his record of six wins from six over hurdles.

Meanwhile, Oscar Whisky is available at 10/1 in the betting with Bet 365 and looks a good price after wins at Cheltenham and Ffos Las in 2011, although he is yet to win a Grade 1 and was fourth in the Supreme Novices last year. Dunguib is another with Supreme Novices experience and can be found at 12/1, while last year's Champion Hurdle runner up Khyber Kim is priced 16/1 after a disappointing fourth place finish in the Christmas Hurdle.

Ultimately, Binocular is the one to beat this year as his preparation looks far better than last year, and he could well provide Henderson with a third successive, and record sixth overall, Champion Hurdle winner.

Champion Hurdle 2011 Odds

7/2 Binocular*
9/2 Menorah
9/2 Hurricane Fly
5/1 Peddlers Cross
10/1 Oscar Whisky
12/1 Dunguib
12/1 Mille Chief
16/1 Khyber Kim
25/1 Cue Card
50/1 Overturn*
50/1 Thousand Stars
50/1 Get Me Out Of Here
50/1 Walkon
50/1 Starluck
50/1 Soldatino
66/1 BAR

*Denotes industry best price. Odds supplied by Bet365.com, who provide odds for all 27 races at Cheltenham Festival.

Posted: Wednesday, 2nd March 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: champion hurdle, cheltenham festival, binocular, menorah, bet365,

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