Somewhat surprisingly Zaynar hardened in the 2010 Champion Hurdle betting after landing the odds of 1/5 in the 2m4f Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, writes Martin Greenwood.
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not suggesting that Nicky Henderson's charge won't win the Blue Riband event next March, but to take notice of a race that told us precisely nothing more about him suggests an overreaction by the bookmakers.
Possibly the result of the Boylesports Hurdle earlier in the day [see below] had something to do with the revised quotes, because all Zaynar - whose dam Zainta is from the family of Arc winner Zarkava - had to do was turn up fit and healthy to dispose of rivals rated considerably inferior to him on official BHA figures.
Other than having to be nudged along approaching the last, Zaynar soon flew clear and had six lengths to spare over the 145-rated Cape Tribulation, with the 124-rated Night Orbit (received 8 lbs) only a further 13 1/2 lengths back in fourth.
Unbeaten in his five starts over hurdles, including the Triumph at the National Hunt Festival in March, this gelding's best form to date remains his defeat of Karabak (BHA 153) at Ascot in November, in a race just a fraction short of 2m4f.
That performance is currently worth a figure in the low 160's, so he has still a few pounds to find with other Champion Hurdle contenders. That is, of course, entirely feasible - but it remains to be seen whether the drop back to the minimum two-mile trip will see him in the same light...
JUST CHAMPION?
Speaking of the Champion Hurdle, the Grade Two Boylesports.com International Hurdle on the same card may have muddied the picture still further by adding another candidate to the lengthening list of hopefuls in the form of Khyber Kim.
'KK' had always appeared at his best first time out over hurdles but Saturday's race showed him to be a very different horse to the one who failed to make the first 20 in last season's County Hurdle off a mark of just 144.
His latest mark of 165 does not look to flatter him in the slightest, indeed had Celestial Halo jumped the last flight more fluently it may have helped not hindered the winner as he probably hit the front too soon.
If Khyber Kim can be persuaded to maintain this level of form he is a leading player come March.
He reportedly may head for the Totesport off his new mark of 165, a mark off which Celestial Halo won a handicap at Wincanton on his seasonal debut.
On a slightly less positive note this would put anything below 139 out of the handicap proper for the Newbury showpiece and the top weight in next Saturday's Ladbroke is rated just 140.
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not suggesting that Nicky Henderson's charge won't win the Blue Riband event next March, but to take notice of a race that told us precisely nothing more about him suggests an overreaction by the bookmakers.
Possibly the result of the Boylesports Hurdle earlier in the day [see below] had something to do with the revised quotes, because all Zaynar - whose dam Zainta is from the family of Arc winner Zarkava - had to do was turn up fit and healthy to dispose of rivals rated considerably inferior to him on official BHA figures.
Other than having to be nudged along approaching the last, Zaynar soon flew clear and had six lengths to spare over the 145-rated Cape Tribulation, with the 124-rated Night Orbit (received 8 lbs) only a further 13 1/2 lengths back in fourth.
Unbeaten in his five starts over hurdles, including the Triumph at the National Hunt Festival in March, this gelding's best form to date remains his defeat of Karabak (BHA 153) at Ascot in November, in a race just a fraction short of 2m4f.
That performance is currently worth a figure in the low 160's, so he has still a few pounds to find with other Champion Hurdle contenders. That is, of course, entirely feasible - but it remains to be seen whether the drop back to the minimum two-mile trip will see him in the same light...
JUST CHAMPION?
Speaking of the Champion Hurdle, the Grade Two Boylesports.com International Hurdle on the same card may have muddied the picture still further by adding another candidate to the lengthening list of hopefuls in the form of Khyber Kim.
'KK' had always appeared at his best first time out over hurdles but Saturday's race showed him to be a very different horse to the one who failed to make the first 20 in last season's County Hurdle off a mark of just 144.
His latest mark of 165 does not look to flatter him in the slightest, indeed had Celestial Halo jumped the last flight more fluently it may have helped not hindered the winner as he probably hit the front too soon.
If Khyber Kim can be persuaded to maintain this level of form he is a leading player come March.
He reportedly may head for the Totesport off his new mark of 165, a mark off which Celestial Halo won a handicap at Wincanton on his seasonal debut.
On a slightly less positive note this would put anything below 139 out of the handicap proper for the Newbury showpiece and the top weight in next Saturday's Ladbroke is rated just 140.
Good post. Horse racing has been an enticing area for the online sports handicappers for many years.
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