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Christmas Hurdle Odds: Rock On Ruby can overshadow Binocular and Overturn

All the talk in the build up to Monday's Christmas Hurdle at Kempton has been about the latest instalment of Binocular versus Overturn, although Rock On Ruby could be ready to overshadow both of them. There is a small but select field of five for the Grade One and it is Rock On Ruby who is the most marginal of favourites at odds of 15/8 with Boylesports.

Paul Nicholls' 6-year-old, a short head second in the Neptune Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival, steps back in grade after winning the Gerry Feilden handicap in fine style last time out. The gelding stayed on impressively to follow up his seasonal debut win at Newbury, where he claimed victory despite giving 13lbs to Raya Star. Ominously for his rivals Rock On Ruby is yet to lose with Ruby Walsh in the saddle and Nicholls looks to have a great chance of winning this 2 mile contest for the first time.

Rock On Ruby comes up against Binocular (2/1 in the latest odds), who is the defending champion after Nicky Henderson's gelding beat Overturn by four lengths last year. The 2010 Champion Hurdle winner missed the opportunity to defend his Cheltenham Festival title after a failed drugs test and he has been beaten on his three outings since March. Connections will be hoping that lacklustre form is turned around on Monday as Binocular had been disappointing leading up to his win in this race last year, although he has plenty to do after finishing second to Overturn in the Fighting Fifth last month.

Overturn won by four and a half lengths at Newcastle and the front-running gelding has been on a fine run of form since his defeat in the Christmas Hurdle last year. The 7-year-old has won the Chester Cup, Scottish Summer Champion Hurdle, Ascot Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth since last December, while his Grade One and Two successes this season make him the highest earning national hunt horse this term. Donald McCain's gelding was beaten by Grandouet when giving away 4lbs in the International Hurdle last time out and he should be right in the mix again, with Boylesports.com pricing him 9/4 for Monday.

Elsewhere, Paul Nicholls' second string is the Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Sanctuaire, who is priced 20/1 by Boyles after struggling in graded company so far. The 5-year-old has plenty to find in this company and this looks a big test.

Also at 20/1 is Oliver Sherwood's Clerk's Choice, who was sixth in the Champion Hurdle last season. The gelding's best performances have tended to come at Cheltenham and it will be a concern that he shaped as if something was amiss when seventh on his first appearance for Sherwood last time.

Latest Christmas Hurdle Odds

15/8 Rock On Ruby
2/1 Binocular
9/4 Overturn
20/1 Sanctuaire
20/1 Clerk's Choice

Odds provided by Boylesports.com.

Posted: Saturday, 24th December 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: christmas hurdle, kempton park, binocular, boylesports,

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