The much improved Sharjah looks the early Champion Hurdle value against hot favourite and dual winner Buveur D’Air.
SHARJAH – 10-1 ( each-way ) with Ladbrokes, William Hill, Unibet and Betfair. 3.30pm Cheltenham Tuesday 12th March.
Dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air will attempt to join a select band of hurdling royalty that includes the likes of Persian War and Istabraq by winning the great race for a third time this March and the son of Crillon, a top price 6-4 with Coral in the latest Cheltenham betting odds, looks easily the one they all have to beat if reaching Cheltenham on Tuesday 12th March in top form. But in a race which lacks little strength in depth the each-way value has to lie with the Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah at the 10-1 available with Ladbrokes, William Hill, Betvictor and sponsor Unibet.
Samcro disappoints as Sharjah finishes strong to claim the Grade One Ryanair Hurdle for trainer Willie Mullins #Leopardstown pic.twitter.com/fxzV4kxbBb
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 29, 2018
The Doctor Dino gelding looked a tremendous prospect after winning his first two starts for the Closutton handler towards the back end of 2017 before being upped in class for Leopardstown’s Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle over Christmas. Allowed to go off at the generous odds of 8-1 the mount of Patrick Mullins looked to have the race won when cruising into the lead approaching the last flight of hurdles, at which point the horse took a crashing fall.