Hurricane Fly is the new favourite for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham after running away with the paddypower.com iPhone App Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown this afternoon.
Although a sedate pace didn’t really play into the hands of his rivals, Willie Mullins’ gelding couldn’t have been more impressive when asked for his effort, bounding away to record a two-and-a-half length victory
‘This was probably Hurricane Fly’s most impressive performance to date and if he makes it to Cheltenham in one piece, the weight of Irish money could easily see him go off a well-backed favourite,’ said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.
Big Buck’s continued his imperious form over hurdles with another classy victory in the A.P. Wins Sports Personality Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury and he has been cut to 4/7 favourite (from 4/6) with totesport for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
‘We’ve learned nothing new about Big Buck’s after his latest victory but he’s clearly still head and shoulders above anything else in the staying hurdling division and will be the banker for punters as the Cheltenham Festival approaches,’ said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.
Elsewhere at Leopardstown, Big Zeb remains the 3/1 second-favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with totesport following victory in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase. Master Minded still heads the market at 7/4.
First Lieutenant lowered the colours of Zaidpour in the paddypowerpoker.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle and has been introduced at 20/1 by totesport for the Supreme Novices’. Zaidpour is out to 6/1 (from 4/1) for the same race whilst he has also been pushed out to 7/1 (from 6/1) for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. Consequently, Cue Card has been cut to 2/1 favouritism (from 11/4) for the Supreme Novices’.
Over at Newbury, Backspin has been introduced at 10/1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle by totesport after an impressive victory in the Sportingbet Supports Heros Charity Challow Novices’ Hurdle.
Ghizao shortened further at the head of the market for the Arkle after an authoritative performance in the Bathwick Tyres Supports Heros Andover Novices’ Steeplechase and is now 6/1f (from 8/1) with totesport.
Grandouet was cut to 14/1 (from 25/1) by totesport for the Triumph Hurdle following a facile victory in the Happy Birthday Laura Juvenile Hurdle whilst Rock On Ruby received a quote of 10/1 from totesport for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle after winning the Heros ‘All Horses Deserve A Future’ Introductory Hurdle.
Pride Of Dulcote has been installed as a 20/1 shot for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup by the sponsors after narrowly defeating Punchestowns in the Bathwick Tyres Supports Heros Mandarin Graduation Steeplechase. The latter has been eased out slightly for the same race to 25/1 (from 20/1).
