Zaynar - Cheltenham Betting Tips, Cheltenham Festival Tips 2012

Zaynar Heads Champion Hurdle Market

December 12, 2009 By Racing Diary

ZAYNAR CROWNED NEW CHAMPION HURDLE FAVOURITE

Nicky Henderson’s Zanyar now heads the betting for the Champion Hurdle with William Hill in an afternoon of changes in the ante-post market. The five-year-old took the closing Grade Two Hurdle at Prestbury Park and was subsequently cut to 4-1 from 5-1 favourite.

Zaynar can Win the Champion Hurdle

Thirty-five minutes earlier Cheltenham was left shocked when Khyber Kim lowered the colours of odds-on favourite Celestial Halo who was eased to 8-1 from 6-1, with the winner slashed to 12-1 from 50-1 for the Hurdling Blue Riband.

In one of the most open heats for decades, just four points split the front five in the betting for the Champion Hurdle with second-favourites Hurricane Fly and Binocular both at 5-1, Irish raider Solwhit at 6-1, and last year’s runner-up Celestial Halo at 8-1.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’Today’s events have muddied the waters even further for ante-post punters. Zaynar has entered the Champion Hurdle fray fairly late-on but is now the only leading contender unbeaten this season, and fully deserves to be favourite.’’

Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle: 4-1 Zaynar, 5-1 Binocular, Hurricane Fly, 6-1 Solwhit, 8-1 Celestial Halo, 12-1 Go Native, Khyber Kim, Punjabi, 20-1 Voler La Vedette, Sublimity, 33-1 Medermit, Starluck, 40-1 Quevega, (Others On Request) (EW 1/4 1,2,3)

In other ante-post news, Poquelin was promoted to 9-2 (from 10-1) second-favourite for the Ryanair following his victory in the Boylesports Gold Cup, whilst Tell Massini enhanced his lofty reputation further with his win, and now heads the betting at 5-1 for the Albert Bartlett three-mile hurdle, and 10-1 (from 14-1) for the newly-named Neptune Investments Hurdle.

Skybet…
Zaynar is the new 4/1 favourite with Sky Bet for the Champion Hurdle after he extended his unbeaten sequence to five over hurdles with victory in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson will aim last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner at the Champion Hurdle and will refit the cheekpieces used last year at the Festival to focus his concentration.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: ‘He is the one contender yet to disappoint and his elevation to head the market was justified following the defeats in the International of last year’s Champion Hurdle 1-2.’

Filed Under: Cheltenham News Tagged With: Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival 2010, Zaynar

Diamond Harry and Zaynar Cut for Cheltenham 2010

November 21, 2009 By Racing Diary

Diamond Harry put up a terrific performance to take the Timeform Betfair Racing Club ‘Fixed Brush’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock under the steadier of 11st 12lb.

Timmy Murphy again elected to race wide and his mount always travelled with immense purpose. Still under a tight rein at the last, the Nick Williams-trained six-year-old cruised home by two and a half lengths from 3-1 favourite Burton Port at the rather rewarding odds of 9-2.

Stan James cut the impressive Diamond Harry from 14/1 to 8/1 for the World Hurdle and to 10/1 (from 14s) for the RSA Chase after a cracking weight-carrying performance at Haydock Park in the valuable 3m Handicap Hurdle.

Head of PR Charlie McCann:”Diamond Harry was only winnng off a mark of 149 but the manner of his win suggested he is a real threat to Big Bucks if connections decide to stay over timber. With Punchestowns due to make his chase debut at Newbury this week the RSA Chase could also be a very hot heat and trainer Nick Williams has a very difficult decision to make.”

World Hurdle 2010 ~ Outright Ante post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

7-4 Big Buck’s
5 Zaynar
8 Fiveforthree
8 Diamond Harry (from 14s)
10 Punchestowns
10 Mikael D’Haguen’
12 Solwhit
12 Questarabad
12 Karabak
16 Celestial Halo
16 Weapon’s Amnesty
20 Bar

RSA Chase 2010 ~ Outright Ante post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

6 Mikael D’Haguenet
7 Punchestowns
10 Diamond Harry (from 14s)
10 Long Run
12 Bensalem
14 Kangaroo Court
16 Pride Of Dulcote
16 Whatuthink

Zaynar has been cut from 12/1 to 6/1 for the Champion Hurdle with Stan James.

Zaynar made an impressive return to action as he strolled home in the Coral Ascot Hurdle.

Off the track since winning the Triumph Hurdle in March, Nicky Henderson’s charge was sent off the 9-4 joint favourite in the hands of Andrew Tinkler, who was riding the four-year-old for the first time.

He barely had a moment of worry, sitting in behind early pacesetter Lough Derg before kicking on to take it up two flights from home.

1st 3 Zaynar (FR) 9-4 JF
2nd 4 Karabak (FR) 9-4 JF
3rd 7 Red Moloney (USA) 16-1

Filed Under: Cheltenham Betting Tagged With: Champion Hurdle, Diamond Harry, World Hurdle, Zaynar

Triumph Hurdle Winner Set for Ascot Reappearance

November 17, 2009 By Racing Diary

Victor Chandler expects Zaynar to relish the step up in trip in Saturday’s Coral Ascot Hurdle.

The bookmaker heads the syndicate who own the JCB Triumph Hurdle winner who faces a clash with Katchit at the Berkshire track.

Chandler said: “We were obviously delighted with the brave performance of Zaynar in the Triumph Hurdle particularly as he looked like he may get tapped for toe at Cheltenham.

“This step up in trip to two miles three and half furlongs should suit him and I understand he has been ticking all the right boxes during the summer break.”

Nicky Henderson’s charge has been installed as the 5/2 favourite for Saturday’s race by the sponsors.

Starluck is set to run at Haydock on Saturday rather than wait for the ‘Fighting Fifth’ a week later.

Connections hope the ground doesn’t get too testing but feel the Tune Into Timeform Radio Hurdle is the ideal target for their progressive four-year-old.

“He’s in at Haydock on Saturday and if the ground wasn’t desperately heavy he’ll go there rather than the Fighting Fifth,” trainer Alan Fleming told At The Races.

“It looks a more obvious stepping stone to the Christmas Hurdle so we’re hoping to run him on Saturday.

“We discussed the Fighting Fifth in terms of the WBX bonus but there’s no point taking the big boys on yet. We’ll have a crack at them at Kempton on ground and a track that might suit us better.”

Filed Under: Cheltenham News Tagged With: Nicky Henderson, Triumph Hurdle, Zaynar