Big Buck’s heads World Hurdle entries

Big Buck’s aims to take his third consecutive World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

 

BIG BUCK'S heads a total of 46 entries for this season's Ladbrokes World Hurdle, as the Paul Nicholls-trained star bids to win the race for the third consecutive year.

He could face outstanding novice hurdler Mikael D'Haguenet, who won the 2009 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but has been disappointing since sent novice chasing this season and now features among the World Hurdle entries, at a best-priced 16-1.

Big Buck's hasn't tasted defeat since November 2008 when unseating Sam Thomas in the Hennessy, and was subsequently sent back over hurdles with devastating effect, winning ten races - five of which were Grade 1s - in a row.

Alongside the general 4-7 favourite, Nicholls has also entered stablemates Celestial Halo and Organisateur.

The runner-up in the 2009 running, Punchestowns, could represent the red-hot Nicky Henderson, with Spirit River and Oscar Whisky also holding entries for the trainer.

Restless Harry was last seen finishing third to Big Buck's in the A.P. Wins Sports Personality Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury last month, and trainer Robin Dickin will head to Cheltenham next week with high hopes of a good performance from the general 33-1 shot in the World Hurdle market.

He said: "Restless Harry runs in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday week and I am hopeful that he can run a big race. He is tremendously well in himself and we always said that we would remain over hurdles this season because of his limited mileage.

"All we saw was the fog when he ran at Newbury but Lough Derg is a top-class horse on his day and it was far from a disgrace to go down by a head to him. There are probably four or five horses that are quite evenly matched behind Big Buck's but you should never be scared of taking on one horse - who would have thought that Kauto Star would have got beaten on Saturday?

"It's not his fault that he is competing in the top staying hurdles but when you run in those kind of races, then you are bound to take on champions like Big Buck's."

Other notable entries include Karabak, Bensalem and Walkon for the Alan King yard.

WORLD HURDLE BETTING:

Big Buck's     4/7
Mourad     10/1
Grands Crus     10/1
Oscar Whisky     10/1
Punchestowns     10/1
Quevega     12/1
Karabak     16/1
Zaynar     16/1
Mikael D'Haguenet     16/1
Ashkazar     20/1
Khyber Kim     20/1
Solwhit     20/1
Bensalem     25/1
Any Given Day     25/1
Luska Lad     25/1

WORLD HURDLE BETTING WITHOUT BIG BUCK’S:

Karabak     5/1
Grand Crus     5/1
Mourad     5/1
Punchestowns     5/1
Quevega     5/1
Mikael D'Haguenet     7/1
Zaynar     8/1
Bensalem     10/1
Ashkazar     10/1
Solwhit     10/1
Any Given Day     12/1
Celestial Halo     12/1
Luska Lad     12/1
Powerstation     16/1
Restless Harry     16/1
Berties Dream     20/1
Fair Along     20/1

 

Champion Hurdle Declarations Finalised

BINOCULAR, 5-2 favourite with the sponsors to successfully defend his title in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 15, figures among a 31-strong entry for the highlight of thefirst day of the festival.

The seven-year-old, who confirmed his wellbeing with a win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday, is one of five entries for trainer Nicky Henderson. 

Henderson's entries also include the last two winners of the JCB Triumph Hurdle, Soldatino and Zaynar, French import Solix and Oscar Whisky, who finished fourth in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle and made a winning return to action at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Strong opposition to Binocular comes from last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Menorah, who is unbeaten in three outings at Cheltenham. Donald McCain has two entries, the unbeaten Peddlers Cross and Christmas Hurdle runner-up Overturn.

Last year's Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner Cue Card has also been entered.

A strong Irish entry of seven is headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly, a six-time Grade 1 winner. Dunguib, winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 2009, also features but is yet to run this season.

Alan King tasted Champion Hurdle glory with Katchit in 2008 and he has three chances this time around with Mille Chief, Walkon and Salden Licht.

King said: "I think that the plan will be for Mille Chief to head to Wincanton for the Kingwell Hurdle on February 19. I had thought of returning to Sandown for the Contenders' Hurdle two weeks earlier but I wouldn't want to take Binocular on, so the Kingwell, which we won with Katchit in 2008, is the most likely option.

"Walkon will go to Haydock on Saturday for the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial. It was always the target for him and he is going to need the run but we have to start him somewhere. He is a big, gross horse who is hard to get fit and he hasn't run for the best part of two years.

"He severed part of his tendon when he won at Aintree andmissed all of last season. It's great to get him back to a racecourse but he is going to be rusty.

"He's in the Champion Hurdle and the World Hurdle but we need to see where we are with him. It couldbe a case of just ducking and diving this season and going chasing with him next year.

"Salden Licht will head to Newbury for the Totesport Trophy. He's rated 152 now, which is not to far off Mille Chief, but he is a year older than Mille Chief and it always gets more difficult the older they get.

"He is still a very good horse and he won well at Exeter. I don't know whether he is up to Champion Hurdle standard but he is a decent horse and we will know more after Newbury."

BETTING:

Binocular     5/2
Hurricane Fly     5/1
Menorah     5/1
Peddlers Cross     11/2
Oscar Whisky     14/1
Dunguib     20/1
Mille Chief     20/1
Cue Card     25/1
Khyber Kim     25/1
Overturn     25/1
Silviniaco Conti     25/1
Soldatino     33/1
Solwhit     33/1
Walkon     40/1
Alaivan     50/1
Clerk's Choice     50/1
Get Me Out Of Here     50/1
Starluck     50/1
Thousand Stars     50/1
Zaynar     50/1
Cristal Bonus     50/1
Sublimity     50/1
Solix     50/1
Barizan     66/1
Celestial Halo     66/1

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2010 Champion Hurdle won by Binocular

McKenna Cup Preview

   

Tonight sees a full schedule of matches in the Dr McKenna Cup including the first appearances of the tournament for Tyrone and Fermanagh. The betting for tonight’s matches is as follows (all matches 7.30pm unless stated otherwise)

1/4 Tyrone 8/1 U.U.Jordanstown 10/3

5/4 Monaghan 7/1 Cavan 8/11

4/11 Derry 8/1 Queen’s University Belfast 5/2

1/6 Armagh 10/1 St Mary’s Belfast 9/2

11/8 Antrim 15/2 Down 4/6

3/10 Donegal 15/2 Fermanagh 3/1 (8.00pm)

 

There are very strong favourites in four of the six games with the favourites looking nailed on and not worth a bet at the prices. In the other two games though it is the outsiders I fancy to spring a surprise in.

A lot has been made of the absentees in the Monaghan panel for the McKenna Cup but the newcomers still played reasonably well against a much fitter Queens team on Saturday afternoon. The Farney men lost by four points but kicked sixteen wides during the match. They showed enough against Queens to show that there is definitely potential in a few of the new faces and when you add to this the experience of Dick Clerkin and Paul Finlay I think they should have enough on show to edge the match tonight against the Breffni men. Cavan started their campaign with a two point loss at home to Derry and are still missing their star man Seanie Johnston so I think home advantage will allow Monaghan to take the points tonight.

Antrim play host to Down tonight at Casement Park and are a massive price at 11/8 given the circumstances. Antrim come into the match after a good win at the weekend albeit against the students from St Mary’s. Down were beat by local rivals Armagh in a tight encounter at Pairc Esler where both defences under performed. Down have named the same defence from Saturday night which doesn’t inspire confidence, two of the players actually play most of their football in the forward lines for their respective clubs. It is hard to see how they will cope against the lively duo of CJ McGourty and Paddy Cunningham. Down also rest Martin Clarke and Benny Coulter from the team that played on Saturday night. They were two of the better Down players on the night and helped prevent Down from taking a hammering, Benny bagging 2-01 himself. Danny Hughes and Mark Poland come in to replace the pair. It is the Down defence though that gives the most to worry about and Antrim should win this match by a few points.

All star duo Coulter and Clarke rested from the starting line up against Antrim tonight.

Tournament outright betting:

Tyrone 2/1

Derry 7/2

Armagh 7/2

Donegal 9/2

Down 9/1

Antrim 9/1

Queens 10/1

Fermanagh 16/1

Cavan 20/1

Monaghan 33/1

U.U.Jordanstown 40/1

St Mary’s Belfast 66/1

Cheltenham Champion Chase Declarations

TWO-TIME Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded heads 21 entries for the Sportingbet.com-sponsored 2011 renewal, although the star chaser has also been given an entry in the 2m5f Ryanair Chase for thefirst time in three years.

Last year's Champion Chase winner Big Zeb, who forced Master Minded into fourth, is entered in the Cheltenham Festival contest, as is the progressive Woolcombe Folly. Sizing Europe, Tataniano and Golden Silver have also been given entries.

BETTING:

Master Minded     9/4
Big Zeb     10/3
Woolcombe Folly     7/1
Sizing Europe     11/1
Captain Cee Bee     12/1
Tataniano     14/1
Somersby     20/1
Golden Silver     20/1
Forpadydeplasterer     25/1
Mad Max     33/1
French Opera     33/1
Gauvain     33/1
Petit Robin     33/1
Crack Away Jack     33/1
J'Y Vole     66/1
I'M So Lucky     80/1
Barker     80/1
Cornas     80/1
Tchico Polos     100/1
Scotsirish     100/1
Herecomesthetruth     250/1

 

2010 Champion Chase won by Big Zeb

Cheltenham Gold Cup Declarations Finalised

THE superstar chasing triumvirate of Imperial Commander, Kauto Star and Denman head an entry of 34 for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The trio, who between them have won the last four runnings of jumping's most prestigious prize, form the backbone of the potential runners in the £500,000 showpiece.

Imperial Commander, winner of last season's race, is expected to head straight to Cheltenham, same goes for Kauto Star after finishing third in Saturday's King George Chase.

As well as Kauto Star and Denman - who also runs next in the Gold Cup - trainer Paul Nicholls has entered Pride Of Dulcote, The Nightingale, What A Friend, Neptune Collonges and Noland.

Ireland, without a Gold Cup success for five years, have nine potential runners including recent Lexus Chase winner Pandorama.

Trainer Noel Meade said: "Pandorama will hopefully head to Cheltenham providing he is fit and well,although we wouldn't run him on good going. Good to soft ground would be okay and we would love to run him in the Gold Cup.

"He has come out of his victory in the Lexus Chase in very good form and we have always thought that he was capable of winning a big race like that. He would obviously have to improve again to have a chance at Cheltenham but he is still a young chaser.

"The plan is for him to run in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown on February 6 and then, fingers crossed, he will go to Cheltenham."

Other high-profile entries include Hennessy Gold Cup winner Diamond Harry, Saturday's Coral Welsh National victor Synchronised and Cheltenham specialist Midnight Chase

BETTING:

Imperial Commander     7/2
Long Run     7/1
Denman     8/1
Diamond Harry     8/1
Kauto Star     10/1
Pandorama     14/1
Pride Of Dulcote     16/1
Midnight Chase     16/1
Punchestowns     25/1
Time For Rupert     25/1
Sizing Europe     28/1
Joncol     33/1
What A Friend     33/1
Cooldine     40/1
Weird Al     50/1
Planet Of Sound     50/1
Tidal Bay     50/1
Synchronised     50/1
Neptune Collonges     66/1
Carruthers     66/1
Kempes     66/1
Money Trix     66/1
China Rock     66/1

 

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010 won by Imperial Commander

Tuesday’s Football Preview

Manchester City play host to Leicester tonight in the FA Cup Third Round replay following their thrilling 2-2 draw nine days ago at the Walkers Stadium.

City topped the Premier League briefly at the weekend after their high scoring win against Wolves. Their defence has started to show a few holes in it recently. It is because of this I think tonight that the ‘Both teams to score’ bet is good value at 8/11. Sven Goran Eriksson will have the Foxes all set for tonight and will be looking to claim the scalp of the team thirty one places higher than them in the league. Sven has installed a great work ethic to Leicester and will be looking to get one over on his former player Roberto Mancini. Three of Leicester’s last four matches have had both teams scoring and this should continue tonight. City should have no problem scoring against Leicester given their wealth of attacking talent despite a couple of players missing.

A decent outside bet for tonight could be the Brazilian Jo to score the first goal for City tonight at 7/2. So far this season he has been on the outside looking in on this team but has put in some decent performances in the Europa League scoring in their 1-1 draw with Juventus and impressing in the 4-1 demolition of Fulham. With Mario Balotelli injured and new signing Edin Dzeko ineligible for the cup he could get the chance to lead the line tonight and try to stake a claim for a starting spot at the weekend away to Aston Villa.

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Weekend’s Horse Racing Preview

 

The first race at Punchestown on Saturday sees an exciting ex hurdler for Willie Mullins make his chasing bow. FLAT OUT has his first run over fences in the 11.45am Beginners Chase. The horse is very highly thought of by the Mullins yard, picked out at the start of the year as a potential Arkle candidate. It has the best hurdle form in the race, was second to Blackstairmountain in a Grade Two hurdle at the course in April. Currently 25/1 for the Arkle at the Festival without running in a chase, the horse has been extensively schooled over fences at home and should be ready for this race.

Another favourite which should oblige tomorrow is at Sandown in the Tolworth Hurdle at 2.40pm. TOUBAB is a very smart prospect for Paul Nicholls who has won the last three runnings of this race with Breedsbreeze, Silverburn and Noland. Nicholls said at the start of the season in his stable preview that Toubab was “an interesting horse for top novice hurdles this season” and he hasn’t disappointed so far winning a listed race at Haydock in November over two miles, beating Drill Sergeant by eight lengths without coming off the bridle. He is fourth in the Supreme Novice betting at 12/1 which is his target for the season and that price should shorten tomorrow after winning the Tolworth.

A good each way shout comes in the Handicap Chase at Sandown (3.15pm). Nicky Henderson sends FRENCH OPERA for his first run of the season here. Won four out of his five starts over fences last season and ran arguably his best race in the one he was beaten in, the Grand Annual at Cheltenham where he was beaten a length by Pigeon Island. He has proven form against his rivals here having beaten Tchico Polos by six lengths in a Grade Two Novice Chase at Ayr in April. Henderson will have the horse raring to go so fitness should not be an issue and the horse should make the frame.

Recommendations:

11.45am Punchestown: FLAT OUT (forecast 9/4)

2.40pm Sandown: TOUBAB (forecast 11/10)

3.15pm Sandown: FRENCH OPERA (forecast 8/1)