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International Hurdle Tips: Overturn Can Land Four Timer for McCain

It looks like just eight will go to post for tomorrow’s cracking looking Grade 2 International Hurdle over 2m1f at Cheltenham, with tips flooding in for the Donald McCain trained, Overturn to claim a fourth win from four starts this season.

Already the winner of the Scottish Hydro Champion Hurdle at Perth back in August, which Overturn followed up by claiming the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot and then more recently the prestigious Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle at the end of last month. In each of those race he set a searing front running pace which no horse has yet been able to live with so far this season and has gone on to win each one cosily.

With such good form shown so far this season, it is easy to understand why there are so many tips for him. However it would appear that he will not start as the race favourite, with that honour going to very highly regarded Grandouet from the Nicky Henderson stable. Currently Grandouet is 3/1 with Ladbrokes who go 7/2 Overturn, 7/2 Menorah and 5/1 Brampour.

Grandouet of course was a fabulous juvenile who was third in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, before going on to win the equivalent race at the Punchestown Festival a couple of months later. This season the 4 year old started by falling two from home when looking every bit the winner of the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. He has since come back with an eight length win in the Betfair Hurdle at Haydock last month and comes to Cheltenham in great form. Trainer Nicky Henderson is very bullish as to his chances, but he knows that the top four in the market are all big dangers.

Also with odds of 7/2, with ladbrokes is Menorah from the Phillip Hobbs yard who makes a return to hurdling after being tried over fences on his seasonal debut. This six year old won the 2010 Supreme Novices Hurdle and was one of the four main protagonists for the 2011 Champion Hurdle back in March. However he could only manage fifth place in that race won by Hurricane Fly and was also well behind the same horse, when fourth in the Grade 1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival earlier this year. Nonetheless he has been the subject of a number of tips to make a winning return over the smaller obstacles this week and if in top form could well be the one to back.

The other entry who has been in receipt of tips all week and who has been well backed is the Paul Nicholls good thing, Brampour, winner in Listed and Grade 3 company over hurdles in his two starts so far this season. The stable have been extremely pleased with his progress at Ditcheat since his disappointing performances at the Cheltenham and Grand National Festival’s last season. Surprisingly, Nicholls has retained Harry Derham to ride the horse with number one jockey, Ruby Walsh switching to their second entry, Sanctuaire a 16/1 chance.

The winner should certainly come from one of those at the top of the market, with preference given to the effervescent Overturn who just seems to be going from strength to strength. Neither Grandouet nor Brampour look experienced enough just yet whilst there are too many ‘ifs and buts’ concerning Menorah. It would be no surprise in fact to see Ruby Walsh grab second place on Sanctuaire, who enjoys a strongly run race which is what he will get with Overturn in the field. He was well behind Brampour earlier this season in the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle over course and distance, but he was conceding 15lb to his stablemate in that race and they will be going off at level weights on Saturday.

International Hurdle Tips

Winner Selection: Overturn

Each Way Selection: Sanctuaire

International Hurdle Odds

3/1 Grandouet
7/2 Overturn
7/2 Menorah
5/1 Brampour
10/1 Pittoni
14/1 Clerk’s Choice
16/1 Sanctuaire
200/1 Stormy Weather

The Odds for this race have been provided by Ladbrokes.com who are providing a comprehensive online service throughout the Cheltenham International meeting.

Posted: Friday, 9th December 2011
Author: Rodney Wise
Tags: cheltenham, international hurdle, overturn, bet365,

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