With defending champion Hurricane Fly yet to be seen in action this season and a number of other leading two-mile hurdlers having shown smart form already this term the Champion Hurdle, highlight on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival that begins on March 13, is almost certainly a more open affair than the market might suggest, writes Elliot Slater.
Reports of Hurricane Fly having worked well on the Leopardstown gallops recently having missed two intended engagements during December have seen Willie Mullins’ charge cut to a solid 9/4 favourite (from 5/2) with bookmakers offering 6/1 bar, but the 12/1 currently available about Christmas Hurdle runner-up Rock On Ruby appeals as amongst the best value in the market for a horse that is on a steep upward curve this season. Those looking for Cheltenham tips should bear this in mind.
The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old, a short-head second to Ireland’s First Lieutenant in the two-mile-five-furlong Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, went on to run third to Spirit Son over a similar trip in Grade 1 company at Aintree a few weeks later on his final outing of the campaign. Dropped back in distance to two miles this season the gelded son of Oscar put up a tremendous performance on his return to action at Newbury in November when carrying 11st 12lbs to a smooth as silk victory over the useful Empire Levant (received 26lb) in landing the listed Gerry Fielden Hurdle by an impressive six-lengths. People placing Betfair Cheltenham 2012 bets need to remember this.
On the back of that fine effort Nicholls decided to pitch Rock On Ruby in against former champion hurdler Binocular at Kempton on Boxing Day, and had he not made a slight mistake at the final flight there are many who believe he would have won the day instead of going down to a battling neck defeat. Apparently improving with every run, 12/1 looks a cracking each-way bet for a horse who could give even Hurricane Fly a ‘run for his money’ on the big day.
Betfair Cheltenham 2012 bets, cheltenham tips
