We look at which horses have been popular with Oddschecker punters over the last 90 days
Buveur D’air – 33.35% of all ante-post bets on the market
Now odds-on favourite across the board, last year’s winner has benefitted from those around him in the market flattering to deceive as well as putting in two taking performances of his own in landing two Grade 1’s with the minimum of fuss. In winning the Fighting Fifth and the Chrismas Hurdle, he’s beaten just seven rivals, with the form on paper nothing to write home about. However, it’s more the style of those victories that have caught the eye with the seven-year-old looking more assured than ever with his jumping, whilst he now travels with ominous authority that only real top class horses are able to do. Now on a winning streak of eight straight victories, the market suggests nothing will be ending that run anytime soon with the 5/2 at the start of the season now best price 4/6.
Buveur D'air makes it another winner for Barry Geraghty and wins the Unibet Christmas Hurdle pic.twitter.com/f6AS5nKdWu
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 26, 2017
Faugheen – 29.71%
From the sublime - his 16 length demolition at Punchestown on his first run for almost two years. To the ridiculous – pulled up before two out in the Ryanair Hurdle at the end of December. It’s tough to gauge just where the machine is in the pecking order of Champion Hurdle contenders with an excuse for his lacklustre performance last time out yet to materialise. Now a ten-year-old, history isn’t exactly in his favour either with only two horses aged 10 or over managing to win the race since 1927 (Hatton’s Grace and Sea Pigeon). Write him off at your peril though with a tilt at the Irish Champion Hurdle now back on the cards after his trainer Willie Mullins said: “It wasn’t there before but it’s come back on the radar with what I’ve seen this morning. I was very taken with the canter and our vet checked him over immediately afterwards and said he was fine.” A standout 6/1 with StanJames, you can be sure he will be a fraction of that price if bouncing backing at Leopardstown in early February.
Favourite Faugheen fails in Ryanair Hurdle as Mick Jazz claims prize #LeopardstownChristmasFestival #rteracing #rtesport pic.twitter.com/zIR5eci63c
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 29, 2017
My Tent Or Yours – 6.81%
Winner of one of the most thrilling races this season when landing the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham before Christmas, that victory was a richly deserved maiden success at the Prestbury Park venue after a run of five consecutive second-placed finishes. Now in the veteran stage of his career at 11-years of age, he’s earned over £826,000 in prize money over the years and has been a model of consistency throughout. It would have to be considered a shock if he were capable of winning a Champion Hurdle at his age, but the new, younger horses are thin on the ground meaning one of the old guard could well spring a surprise in March. As big as 40/1 before his December victory, he is as short as 10/1 with one firm and best price 16/1.
My Tent Or Yours wins a thrilling Unibet International Hurdle at @CheltenhamRaces! pic.twitter.com/IuP0LH3cB5
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 16, 2017
Melon - 6.4%
Behind MTOY in the International Hurdle, the six-year-old has been the subject of much hype in his short career to date having been sent off at just 3/1 for last year’s Supreme after only one run in Ireland. The hope he could progress into a genuine Champion Hurdle contender at this stage looks optimistic but he is the leading light for the new generation. 16/1 earlier in the season, he’s shortened into 6’s with plenty of firms despite his recent defeat with 8/1 best price.
Defi Du Seuil – 5.84%
Unbeatable as a juvenile, he was the great hope for mixing up the division this season and touted as potentially the next big superstar. To therefore write him off after one disappointing run on his first start of the season seems harsh but it appears that’s what many have done. An entry in next month’s Betfair Hurdle looks an intriguing prospect – bookies make him a best price 20/1 shot – but you would think he would have to be winning that uber competitive handicap with some authority to really be considered a threat to the market principles in the Champion Hurdle. As short as 8/1 at the start of the season, his fall from grace has seen those odds drift to best price 20/1 for the March showpiece.
