/ Editor / 02 February 2007 /

In the likely event that Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City will have to make his own running at Sandown on Saturday (14:10), there is a possibility that he might trade bigger in-play than pre-race.

The winner of last year's Triumph Hurdle and Cesarewitch on the Flat is a thoroughly admirable racehorse in every way and it will be a major surprise if he doesn't emerge as an even stronger prospect for the big one at Cheltenham in March.

No five-year-old since See You Then in 1985 has won the Champion, but Detroit City is the sort of tough character who can defy those statistics.

Those looking to lay the grey will point to signs of vulnerability, when he appeared a little ragged in the last 100 yards when winning the International Hurdle at Cheltenham on his latest start.

His supporters will counter that the horse closing him down at the finish that day was none other than dual Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace, who subsequently beat the best Ireland had to offer in the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last weekend.

Those wanting to back the Nick Gifford-trained Straw Bear will be hoping that his rather lacklustre showing at odds-on when fourth behind Jazz Messenger in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, was indeed due to the infection later reported by his stable and not simply that last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up is short of Champion Hurdle class.

There are precious few other trading possibilities in this race. Former Arkle Trophy winner Contraband returns to hurdles for new trainer Steve Gollings in a bid to rekindle his enthusiasm, having lost his way with the Pipe team.

Arcalis shouldn't be judged on his disappointing effort in the recent trial at Haydock, when the ground was bottomless and he was tongue-tied for the first time. But his well beaten fifth placing behind Brave Inca in the Champion last March is probably about as good as he is.

Echo to create Brit tremors

Five previous winners with entries in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, put their credentials on the line for the staying event at the Festival in Saturday's trial race at Wetherby (15:00).

At least one of them is going to enhance their prospects for the big day and, anticipating a bold show on Saturday, Arctic Echo may be worth a speculative back-to-lay ante-post punt for March at the current odds of 46.

Arctic Echo, a mature horse at eight, has been brilliantly placed by Alan Swinbank to win five of his nine starts including all three of his hurdles this season. Each new victory has been more easily gained and he clearly relishes three miles and soft ground.

Bradley Boy tries three miles for the first time but both his style of running and the fact that he hails from the same family as Gold Cup winner Master Oats, suggests he will love it. He has won both his hurdling starts so far and last time gave a 36-length beating to Glinton, who has gone on to win his next three races.

Mr Strachan is another candidate related to a Gold Cup winner - in his case Imperial Call - so the step up to three miles should be in his favour as well. A summer winner at Wetherby, his form figures are not as impressive as some of his rivals but he is likely to be over-priced in both the win and place markets.

Having earned his lowly handicap mark when defeated in novice class, Negus De Beaumont has gone from strength to strength with four straight wins against experienced handicappers. So far, he has yet to let down in-play punters, who have successfully banked on his powerful finish.

It took Chief Dan George 19 tries before he won his first hurdle race, but now the penny has dropped he is improving fast.

All For Luck has no Festival entry but he comes into the equation because he routed a bad field in the mud at Wetherby last month.

Watch Kasbah in the market

Taranis, who is one of the most exciting young chasing prospects in the Paul Nicholls yard, has already plundered one valuable handicap hurdle this season and bids for another one at Sandown on Saturday (15:15).

Taking advantage of a much lower hurdles mark than over fences, Taranis won the Silver Trophy at Chepstow in October. He has gone up 7lb in the ratings for that win, which still leaves him 23lb adrift of a current chase mark earned by his storming third to Gold Cup springer Exotic Dancer at Cheltenham in December.

The decision to go for this rich affair off only 10st 3lb is understandable, however, the reason Taranis is so lowly weighted is because he is not as good a hurdler and he may prove a popular lay if he starts clear favourite.

The strength of last season's juvenile hurdlers gets advertised by the day thanks to the exploits of Detroit City, Fair Along and Blazing Baileys. Kasbah Bliss didn't get the chance to shine against them in the Triumph Hurdle when an early faller, but he had beaten Blazing Baileys at this track prior to the Festival.

There is a natural inclination to avoid top weights in such competitive handicaps and Kasbah Bliss is sure to be overpriced in both win and place markets.

Nonetheless, he is a genuine Group 1 performer (beaten just three lengths in that class last time at Auteuil) and represents the trainer (Francois Doumen) who won the race two years ago with another top weight, the mighty Baracouda.

For a horse that had twice run well to be second to Detroit City last season, Royals Darling was allowed to start at a remarkably generous SP of 25-1 on his seasonal return in the Lanzarote at Kempton, going down narrowly to Verasi. He should gain his revenge.

Keith Reveley, successful last season with Ungaro, tries his luck this time with Accordello, who was third to another tough mare, Refinement, at Kempton last time.

Lord Sam may now be in the handicapper's grip, while Whispered Secret runs off the same mark as when winning over fences at Cheltenham last weekend.

David Arbuthnot will be keen to cement his new arrangement with owner George Ward. Oscar Park, one of his new charges, surely has a big-race success earmarked in the near future.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: