Zaynar is 2/1 with Sky Bet to start favourite in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in March. Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner was promoted to outright 4/1 favouritism with the firm on Saturday following his impressive win in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Zaynar – favourite to be favourite.
Nicky Henderson must juggle a strong team for top hurdling honours and Sky Bet make stablemate and Fighting Fifth flop Binocular 4/1 next best in their 2010 Champion Hurdle special. Henderson’s trio is completed by reigning Champion Hurdler Punjabi, who is 12/1 to be market leader when the tapes rise for the hurdling crown at the Festival next March.
Hurricane Fly, who started the season as favourite with Sky Bet for the 2010 Champion Hurdle, is third best at 9/2 to regain his position at the head of the market for Willie Mullins come race time.
His Punchestown conqueror Solwhit is a 10/1 chance to start favourite with Sky Bet next spring, while fellow Irish raider and Fighting Fifth winner Go Native is an 8/1 chance.
Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: “Binocular and Hurricane Fly are set to clash at Leopardstown and a convincing performance from either would shake up an already wide open Champion Hurdle market.”
Who will start favourite in the 2010 Champion Hurdle, Sky Bet: 2/1 Zaynar, 4/1 Binocular, 9/2 Hurricane Fly, 8/1 Go Native, 9/1 Celestial Halo, 10/1 Solwhit, 10/1 Any other, 12/1 Punjabi, 16/1 Khyber Kim
