John Smith’s Hurdle betting and odds

John Smith’s betting preview

A slightly disappointing field of eight will go to post for the John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday. Considering there were sixteen declared as late as Thursday, a somewhat depleted number of runners will do battle over 3m1f. But of those still left, there is a case to made for several but the real puzzle could lie with which horse goes the best fresh. The first three vying for favouritism all seem to go well fresh after lengthy lay offs and but it’s the Nicky Henderson trained Duc De Regniere who may well go off the shortest. Get the latest betting tips in our horse racing betting section.

The Racing Post have napped Duc De Regniere and he is currently best priced 9/4 with Victor Chandler after his neck victory in a Grade 2 limited handicap at Cheltenham in April. The 8yo gelding has won eight of his eighteen career starts and has run well over fences and the feeling is that he will prove just as good once more over hurdles. The French import finished third to the impressive Big Buck’s at Newbury last year and it seems Barry Geraghty’s mount sets the benchmark in this open race.

Next in the market comes Tidal Bay from the Howard Johnson yard. He’s another horse who has been left trailing in the wake of Big Buck’s and will be glad Paul Nicholls’ excellent gelding has not been entered in this one. Tidal Bay can be found around the 5/2 mark with William Hill and is another that puts his best forward after a spell out from the track. He finished six lengths short of Big Bucks at Aintree in April last time out and has a chance on that form knowing that he shouldn’t come up against his class on Saturday. He’s ran well at this course previously and must be taken seriously in the betting. As should last years winner Fair Along. This German raider trained by Philip Hobbs scored by a massive eighteen lengths here twelve months ago and while it is very unlikely it’ll be as easy this time, he merits his position as a solid 7/2 (Stan James) shot. The 8yo last appeared in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham but finished a disappointing tenth that day in a race which, yes you guessed it Big Bucks won! He’ll no doubt have to bounce right back to form but the majority of his jumping wins came last year from October-December so you would expect him to be thereabouts once more.

Kayf Aramis is an interesting runner simply because of the stables record in this race. Nigel Twiston-Davies has won this race twice in the last four years and his recent exploits on the flat will ensure he lacks nothing in fitness. Probably one of the most exposed horses in the race with sixty-four career starts, he has won over this distance before and the conditions underfoot look sure to suit which means he can’t be ignored at 17/2 (Victor Chandler). This 8yo represents good each way value, the only worry being he failed to win over hurdles in nine attempts last season but not to be discounted with Paddy Brennan in the saddle.

The prices start to get a little larger now as we analyse the chances of Alan King’s Blazing Bailey. He won at odds on in his penultimate outing at Leicester, but that was a Novices chase and only three runners went to post. And despite a finishing third at Wincanton in March he was still thirteen lengths off the pace. Far from the force he was in the 2008 season, his poor showings in Novices this year justify his longshot 10/1 odds (Bet365). May be best watched once more and likely he’ll have to settle for place claims at the most. Raslan is next in the market at 12/1 (Victor Chandler) but does arrive at Wetherby in decent form for David Pipe. The 7yo gelding has had some recent track time unlike some of the opposition, taking a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot in August and following up with placings in September and October. Danny Cook takes the ride and although he will be unable to claim a 3lb allowance, he could run a huge race at a tasty price. A negative however is that he has done most of his racing over much shorter and the trip could be a cause for concern. Coastley (33/1) and Majestic Mayhem (50/1) make up the field but both look out of their depth in this company and are likely to struggle against their classier opponents. Get a free bet for this race here.

Duc De Regniere will most definitely go off shorter than his current 9/4 but he can justify favouritism by landing the John Smith’s Hurdle for Nicky Henderson. His profile is progressive and can capitalise most from those horses retuning from a break and take the £43,000 purse!

If you are betting on the John Smith’s Hurdle, why not open an account with Betfred who are offering a free £50 bet.

By Mikey Mumford

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