The Champion Hurdle picture has begun to look a little fuzzy for spread bettors after the high profile defeats of Binocular, Solwhit and Hurricane Fly.

It now looks like a very open race, but further clues will be on evidence when last year’s first and second in the Champion – Punjabi and Celestial Halo – line up for the Boylesports International. Horse racing spread betting fans who like to sell SP markets will be encouraged that six of the last eight favourites have been successful in this race. However, they will not be happy if there is a repeat of the 2003 result when Rigmarole won the race at 25/1 for ‘Choc’ Thornton and Paul Nicholls.

This race used to be known as the Bula Hurdle, but was changed to the Relkeel after the irrepressible son of Relkino won his third straight race in 1999 as a 10-year-old. Spread bettors should be aware that the make-up of winners has been very different to this in recent years, with the last three being aged four or five. Irish-trained horses have also won two of the last five runnings so any invader from the other side of the water shouldn’t be ignored.

Spread punters are always interested in the winning distance markets at this time of year, as the weather tends to have a big impact on the results of races. Interestingly, the winning margins in this race in both of the last two years have been the biggest since 2001. Binocular won by 4 ½ lengths at Ascot last December, whilst Osana romped home 8 lengths clear in 2007.

The International is undoubtedly the highlight of the day, but spread bettors playing the win index markets with Sporting Index often prefer the big handicaps. The Boylesports Gold Cup is one of the biggest 2 ½ mile handicaps of the entire season and often sees some of the leading protagonists from November’s Paddy Power Gold Cup. This race was cancelled 12 months ago due to a waterlogged track, so the last winner was David Pipe’s Tamarinbleu in 2007. Buyers of SP’s were particularly happy with that result as he returned at a disregarded 22/1.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for Sporting Index punters with the 2007 race was that Tamarinbleu had to carry 11st 8lbs – a burden which hadn’t successfully been carried since Addington Boy in 1996. Sellers of SP’s on the spreads will obviously be hoping for a more favoured result this time, but no favourite has won in the last 10 runnings. However, although Tamarinbleu won at 22/1 and Sir OJ at 16/1 two years before, all of the other remaining eight winners have been priced between 4/1 and 9/1.

Sellers of winning distances with Sporting Index have done quite well from this race in recent seasons, with a combined distance of 5 lengths over the past three renewals. However, it is also advisable for spread bettors to be slightly wary. The race has been won by 6, 7, 8 and 22 lengths since 1997.

Follow this link to Sporting Index for more information on spread betting.