Ketchum continues to drift

/ Editor / 04 March 2007 / Leave a Comment

Black Jack Ketchum continues to drift in the World Hurdle market and can now be traded as big as 4.7 for the feature race at Cheltenham on March 15.

The one-time 'Festival Banker', who was matched as low as 1.86, has been sliding out in the betting since trainer Jonjo O'Neill stated during the week he would not risk his stable star if the ground is too heavy.

Black Jack Ketchum's only defeat was suffered on heavy ground in last month's Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, when he came home a lacklustre fifth behind Blazing Bailey after struggling for two or three furlongs prior to reaching the home straight.

"If the ground was this heavy he won't run," said O'Neill at a Cheltenham media gathering.

"We wouldn't punish him in bad ground. We would love to come here, we want to come here, but it is not the end of the world and there is always Aintree and Punchestown."

Market rivals Inglis Drever (4.9) and Mighty Man (6.4) have both shortened in the betting, while there has been support for Blazing Bailey (9.4) and Celestial Wave (12).