Reigning champion Sublimity heads 38 entries for this year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Blue Square make the gelding their 4/1 favourite to retain his crown on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
John Carr’s charge aims to tighten the Emerald Isle’s stranglehold on this race and Blue Square also make it a 2/5 shot that an Irish trained horse wins the Champion Hurdle again in 2008.
‘The Irish have had an enviable record in the Champion Hurdle since 2003 and this year’s entries suggest they have another strong hand,’ said Blue Square spokesman George Primarolo.
‘Sublimity is a worthy favourite for the race and although the Brits will be pinning their hopes mainly on Osana and Katchit, Straw Bear’s victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton showed that he’s no back number’.
Osana is a 6/1 shot with the Paddington-based firm, with Harchibald and Sizing Europe next in the market at 7/1 and 8/1 respectively.
Elsewhere today, Money Trix ran out the ready winner of the Springfield Honda Graduation Chase at Newcastle and has been cut to 14/1 (from 20s) for the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival.
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle
Blue Square bet: 4 Sublimity, 6 Osana, 7 Harchibald, 8 Sizing Europe, 9 Katchit, 12 Straw Bear, 20 Al Eile, 25 Amaretto Rose, Aitmatov, Jazz Messenger, Khyber Kim, Silent Oscar, Hardy Eustace, Blythe Knight, Ebaziyan, 33 De Valira, Farmer Brown, Bobs Pride, Afsoun, Catch Me, 40 Chomba Womba, Clopf, Nicanor, Lounaos, 50 Kalderon, Accordion Etoile, Punjabi, 66 Striking Article, Salford City, Blue Bajan, Blue Shark, 100 Kings Quay, Kawagino, 150 Pigeon Island, 200 Contraband, Cybergenic, 500 Majadal. ¼ 1-2-3
Who will train the winner?
Ireland 2/5
GB 7/4
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