Betfair Handicap Hurdle betting and odds preview

Events / Editor / 20 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Run on the same card as the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, the class 2 Betfair Handicap hurdle is a £100,000 handicap, run over almost three miles, that after just two renewals has already established itself as a hot betting heat that attracts the cream of staying handicap hurdlers.

Trainer Sue Smith foiled many decent bets when springing a 25/1 surprise with St Matthew in the inaugural running of the race in 2005, the gelding defeating subsequent World Hurdle hero My Way De Solzen in a photo finish.

In 2006 the race again proved a significant ante-post odds betting indicator when favourite Halcon Generlandais landed the prize for Alan King, before going on to land some massive bets in winning the Welsh National at Chepstow the following month.

The Betfair Hurdle has become a favoured stop on the line for both staying chasers and hurdlers, the race attracting much betting interest and plenty of bets on the day, but also having significant influence on the ante-post odds betting markets for major races later on in the season.