Relkeel Hurdle betting and odds preview

Events / Editor / 20 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Run at Cheltenham's December meeting over a distance of two-miles-and-five-furlongs, the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle has quickly established itself as a major betting race and trial for the World Hurdle at the Festival meeting three months later.

Last year long odds-on Black Jack Ketchum hacked up for Jonjo O'Neill and Tony McCoy, but many ante-post bets and cramped odds bit the dust when he failed to make it past the third flight in the championship race itself.

The race normally attracts a relatively small but select field meaning that long odds winners are most unlikely, and statistics suggest that bets should be concentrated on the first two in the betting list.

Anyone considering an ante-post bet on one of the 'Relkeel' candidates might be best advised to take the odds before the race, as an impressive performance can see the odds tumble and make the betting opportunity less attractive.