World Hurdle 2016 - Festival Focus

Rheu of Light - Last year's runner-up looks a good each way bet in the World Hurdle.

With the Cleeve Hurdle taking place tomorrow featuring two of the top five in the betting for the World Hurdle, the market for Thursday’s festival feature is due for a shake up before close of business on Saturday.

As such I want to get a horse on side for that race now in case one, or both, of the big two of Thistlecrack and Camping Ground fluff their lines in the Cleeve.

The horse in question is last year’s runner-up Saphir Du Rheu, currently available at 20/1 best price or 16/1 with the Non Runner No Bet concession. A big price if you ask me, though I can see the reasoning behind why he’s currently so long in the betting.

I don’t necessarily agree with the decision of connections to revert back to hurdles after what I thought was a perfectly good run under a welter burden in the Hennessy, but in the aftermath of that decision he was under half his current price for the World Hurdle.

One poor run a bad horse does not make however and the bookies to me seem to have overreacted in pushing him out to such big prices on the back of his Long Walk flop at the end of last year.

A breathing operation since and this race being targeted earlier in the season than last are both improvements on last year’s campaign even if this is once again a somewhat unconventional prep.

He wasn’t beaten that far behind Cole Harden in this last year don’t forget and Paul Nicholls has always thought the world of him and from recent comments, still does.

If the breathing op works the oracle and he can see his races out stronger, given the unsure make up of this race at present and his connections I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that he’ll go off much shorter than his current price on the day.

Nicholls could of course run a few in the race, all of which are going through unusual seasons, but Saphir Du Rheu is the one you fancy would be the leading hope of the yard.

The NRNB concession gives you the assurance that if he doesn’t line up you aren’t doing your money and as previously stated it’ll be a surprise if he’s not a single figure price on the day.

This year’s race does not look as strong as last year’s and already proven over course, distance and at the festival he looks a cracking each-way bet worth having before the market gets a revamp tomorrow.

Recommendation:

Saphir Du Rheu 0.5pt e/w @ 16/1 [NRNB] (Paddy Power, William Hill, Betfair Sportsbook)