CHELTENHAM 2008 - TRIUMPH HURDLE

Another tricky race, so lets concentrate on what we know ??

CELESTIAL HALO - P. Nicholls main hope, won lto.
Galileo gelding.
Finished 7th in 2007 St. Leger btn 3 lengths
"Could be very special" - A. Stewart (owner)

BINOCULAR - Placed in listed company in FRANCE, won on Hdl debut, Plenty of form on soft ground. Different class to FRANCHOEK on flat (Both owned by JP Mc Manus).

I think at this point a lot of the value has gone in regard to Ante-post betting, so at the moment NO BET is the recommendation on this race.

27 Jan - update
sportinglife - Franchoek has been cut into 7/2 from 5s for the Triumph Hurdle by Betfred after he romped to victory at Cheltenham.

Robert Thornton never had to ask Alan King's star hurdler a question as he kicked clear off the home turn and jumped the last in fantastic style to easily dispose of Serabad.

"In my opinion that was the best race that Franchoek has run," said Betfred's Dave Metcalf.

"He has all the right attributes for a Triumph Hurdle candidate, and it will take a real good one to lower his colours in March.

"If anything does beat him they will certainly know they have been in a battle!" added Metcalf.

"However it will be interesting to see which one of JP McManus' Tony McCoy will ride, as Binocular oozed class when winning on his debut at Sandown and Nicky Henderson is very bullish about his chances in the Triumph, for which we go 8/1."


GOOD LUCK!!