Betfair Hurdle 2011

1.15 Newbury

Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £86,849

Advice: 1 pt each/way Final Approach (11/1 Paddy Power), Sire De Grugy (14/1 Bet365), Empire Levant (16/1 Bet365)

Ante Post: 1 pt Zarkandar to win today and Champion Hurdle (16/1 Stan James)

Brampour: Didn’t quite live up to his potential last season when disappointing at both festivals (based on reputation he had earned) but took advantage of good mark to win over C&D and then follow up in Greatwood Hurdle; Progressed once again to come solid third in Greatwood Hurdle but seemed in handicappers grip then.

Zarkandar: Three from three over hurdles, marking himself down as best juvenile with commanding wins in Adonis and Triumph Hurdles, before only class dragged him through when below par at Aintree; Last year’s juvenile form been boosted time and again since, with multiple winners coming from that event, although it should be taken into account that they’ve improved since then; Been off for nearly a year and had breathing operation in meantime, so surely going to improve; Better value available in the race despite his lenient mark.

Get Me Out Of Here: Considering how impressive he was as a novice, he had a disappointing season last year, getting chinned on the line in the County Hurdle (his one decent run that season); Shaped with some more promise this year on his two tarts and gets 7lbs off although his attitude looked like a problem last time.

Final Approach: Improved in the reigon of 20lbs to win MCR and County Hurdles last season, before holding his own at Auteil in end of season contests; First realistic chance since when winning 4 runner conditions contest last time, which should have put him spot on for this; Should go well.

Soldatino: Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, winning Adonis and then Triumph Hurdle on his first two starts for Henderson yard; Not quite back to that level last season, pulling too hard when sixth of 2m3f on debut and probably again when fifth in this last year; Never seen in with a chance in County and rather hard to fancy for this on seasonal debut.

 

Darlan: Unbeaten in four (three hurdles and one bumper win), having to work only once when having everything thrown at him to win at Cheltenham;  Worry is that be heat absolutely nothing on those three runs and handicap mark of 146 looks very stiff based on that; Others make more appeal.

Via Gailei: Made admirable progress this season despite lack of a win, travelling well in three major handicap hurdles before finding at least one too good; Looks in the grip of the handicapper so probably a back to lay option all things considered.

Sailors Warn: One of many unsuited by the slow pace when seventh in the Ladbroke, having previously been unable to give plenty of weight to Steps To Freedom and Unaccomapnied twice beforehand; Off the same mark it’s hard to fancy his chances despite eyecatching booking of Andrew Lynch.

Sire De Grugy: Progressive sort who had little trouble brushing aside modest opposition at Fakenham and Folkestone but notably impressive when landing Dovecote Novices Hurdle with ease from useful Empire Levant, rounding off extremely impressive novice season; Disappointing when seen only time this season but market drift told you all that was needed to know and trainer’s good record in this another positive; One to keep in mind.

Desert Cry: Impressed many with his win in handicap hurdle company on debut but lost all chance by pulling in the Ladbroke and then again in valuable Musselbrugh handicap and flattered by his second to Celestial Halo last time out; Others preferred.

Third Intention: Showed an abundance of potential and talent last season but always let down by an inability to settle, which cost him late on in races; Still seemed to have that problem based on his efforts in two big handicap hurdles this year; Seemed in the grip of the handicapper when well beaten by Ranjaan at Taunton last time.

Empire Levant: Had no answer to Rock On Ruby in receipt of 21lbs from stablemate here but he has since gone onto come close second in Grade 1 and third went onto win Ladbroke Hurdle; No reason why he shouldn’t go well again despite hefty rise in handicap.

Alarazi: Third in the Ladbroke hurdle, beaten just a half-length by Raya Star at Ascot; Failed to back that up, like many horses from said event, when only sixth at Sandown last time; Needs more.

Raya Star: So impressive on October return (admittedly with a May run under his belt) and ran into two very good horses when third in the Gerry Fielden Hurdle (reopposes on much better terms with Empire Levant), a performance he followed up with a hard fought Ladbroke Hurdle win; That race has worked out awfully but he’s only gone up 5lbs and might improve for a proper pace to run at today, so has to be on the shortlist.

Ciceron: Landed a real gamble when winning at Sandown two runs ago and may not have stayed the full trip at Ascot last time out, which would make him of interest, for all that he’s gone up a fair bit in weights since then.

Olofi: Ran a cracker in the Greatwood Hurdle, taking a very wide route in relation to winner before coming home well for clear cut second; Tanking along until coming down in very competitive handicap hurdle here (form been boosted twice since) and deserves major respect off the back of that.

Rigidity: Ran an excellent race when second in Ladbroke Hurdle just two starts back but failed to 

back that up when running a very flat race here in race that Olofi came down in; Others preferred.

Ericht: Would have a great chance on the best of his bumper form, or indeed his hurdling debut when just a couple of lengths behind Steps To Freedom at Cheltenham; However, has since been made to look very slow on two occasions since then, which casts doubts over him even in a big field with a mark of 135 (made redundant by the framing of the weights).

 

Abergavenny: 3 from 3 in weak novice events before Greatwood third so disappointing that he couldn’t do any better than midfield in the Ladbroke despite the lack of a strong pace for him; NH Bumper win is a welcome pointer but more needed than that here.

 

Double Ross: Porgressive since hurdling debut back in October, finishing fifth behind some good types at Ascot before his easy soft ground win; Bettered that since in same condtions, notably when third in Challow and second to Festival candidate Cinders and Ashes; Both were on heavy ground but he’s no 66/1 shot if taking to the better ground here.

VERDICT: As competitive a renewal as ever, with the betting dominated by Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar, who’s as short as 3/1 based on the form of his wins last season. Based on that, a mark of 150 is lenient, but this will be his first run for 316 days and he’s dreadfully short considering that fact at just 3/1, and a much more speculative option could be to back him in an ante post double for today and the Champion Hurdle, which is 16’s – you won’t get that if he wins. Any number need considering although Darlan doesn’t make so much appeal given his harsh handicap mark (and the fact he’s won by just a nose on the only occasion when asked to respond) , while Soldatino has questions to answer after a poor last season. FINAL APPROACH hasn’t run in a handicap hurdle since winning the County at Cheltenham last season but he warmed up perfectly with a win in a small contest at Cork and might still have more to come back in this environment. SIRE DE GRUGY disappointed hugely on his comeback but better is expected today with that run under his belt and his form from last season puts him in with a big chance here. The horse he beat as a novice, EMPIRE LEVANT, has been hiked in the handicap by 12lbs since but his form deserves that and there’s no reason why he can’t go close. He just edges Olofi and Get Me Out Of Here for the last place on the shortlist, alough Double Ross would be no 66/1 shot on good ground.