What a stunning performance from Hurricane Fly in the Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday! Willie Mullins’ five-year-old romped home by seven lengths and bookmaker’s were predictably quick to slash him for next year’s Champion Hurdle, for which he’s a best-priced 4/1 with Ladbrokes.
However, I wouldn’t advise anyone to lump on now, especially as so much can go wrong (and frequently does!) between now and next March, but his win also confirms that QUEVEGA, who finished a couple of lengths adrift of him in a Grade 1 in France last June, will offer stern opposition to Punjabi in Friday’s Rabobank Champion Hurdle (5.30pm).
The latter is returning to defend his crown, having won this race last year, and was also successful on the track when claiming the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle in 2006, but his best performances have come this season. Successful in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in December, he’d probably have won the Christmas Hurdle but for a fall and, after needing the run badly on his next start at Wincanton, he really established himself as a true champion when beating Binocular and Celestial Halo in a tight finish for the Champion Hurdle. So his current price of 5/2 (Paddy Power) is a gift - right?
On decent ground, perhaps, but the going at Punchestown is currently quite testing – soft to heavy for Thursday’s meeting – which gives the stayer Quevega a definite chance of upsetting the champion. Since finishing third to Hurricane Fly last summer, she’s won both her races in style and her 14-length win in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle over 2m4f at the Cheltenham Festival was one of the highlights of the meeting.
In that race, she made United – a Grade 1 winning hurdler and good third behind Solwhit at Aintree last time – look very slow indeed and, although she’s dropping back to 2m here, there’s no denying she has plenty of pace and she’ll be staying on better than anything else at the finish. Paddy Power go 15/8, which looks about right, so the 9/4 with Blue Square and Skybet is worth taking.
Of course, this is no two horse race and the aforementioned Solwhit (7/2 Boylesports) will be no pushover, while the usual Irish suspects of Hardy Eustace and Sizing Europe add further spice to the mix. Nor can Muirhead and Jered be totally ruled out, although the latter would prefer much better ground. However, Quevega, who will be in receipt of the valuable 5lb mares’ allowance, has plenty in her favour and is taken to thwart Pujabi’s bid for a Punchestown festival treble.
Recommended Bet:
Quevega 2pts @ 9/4 Blue Square, Skybet
