Betfair Hurdle Guide 2022

Last years winner will line up again here off top weight. Soaring Glory has run to a decent level this year, latterly running a three lengths third to Epatante, (a former Champion Hurdle winner) in the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

He gave her 7lb there and although the winning distance wasn’t massive, he did look to be well held.

He did have Tritonic back in fourth, and was nicely clear of him.

Back in a graded handicap here, at a course he’s runs well at – he must have a massive chance.

A fairly useful novice last year and has won on one occasion this season. He’s good form to his name, winning a valuable Grade 3 handicap at Ascot.

After this, he failed to fire in the Christmas Hurdle and will need to bounce back to form to have a chance of winning this. 

A Tom Lacey trained gelding by Fame And Glory – he split Epatante and Soaring Glory last time out when running a screamer to finish second in the G1 Christmas Hurdle.

That was a massive run in context to his prior form. As a result of that run, he’s been raised in the weights, (3lb). The rise isn’t significant however, and he might just still be improving.

At big odds, if he can back up that run at Kempton, he could be bang there. Definite each way claims if his last performance wasn’t a flash in the pan.

A Golden Horn gelding for Nicky Henderson. First Street has looked good this season, winning 3/4. Last time out he won a cClass 3 handicap in good style, where he had Royaume Uni, and Lord Baddesley well beaten.

It’s difficult to know how good he is, but he himself was well beaten in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Chepstow, and seemed to appreciate the step down in class back to calmer waters (Kempton latest).

Difficult to assess, he’s come up short against good novices but slammed exposed handicappers last time out. Possible each way claims, unlikely to win.

Was fifth of fifth last time out in a good Grade 2 at Ascot when well beaten by Jonbon. He found himself in the lead as no other horse and jockey wanted to go on and make the pace.

This ended up being an extremely tactical affair and I Like To Move it would have been inconvenienced by that and leading at very slow fractions.

I would be more than happy to draw a line through that and prior to this blowout, he ran out a ready winner of a Cheltenham Grade 2 when making all at a good even pace. He boasts an official rating of 138 which definitely puts him in the mix, off a competitive weight.

Novices have a good record in this and as a result – he’s impossible to dismiss.

Novices have a good record in this and he’s well found in the betting. He’s been in good form this season winning two of three starts.

He won his first two starts this season at odds of 2/13 and 1/10 so was clearly beating inferior rivals, although only winning by a cumulative 4 or so lengths – he ought to have been farther clear at the prices.

Most recently, Knappers Hill ran in the same G2 as I Like To Move it, finishing 3/5. There is a suspicion that he doesn’t finish off his races the best he can.

With the Nicholls yard in desperate form, there are a few question marks surrounding Knappers Hill, if you’re prepared to take a fairly short price about him on the balance of all the key indicators.

A 7yo by Presenting who’s only had the 4 starts under rules (2 point-to-point races). He was beaten the last twice at Exeter and Ascot, when 5-2f for both.

There is a suspicion this horse might be a bit a difficult to keep sound. His last start was over fences and he thoroughly disappointed. He is back to hurdles today off a mark of 135, so he’s definitely weighted to go well.

He does have a lot to find and he’s been frustrating. Hard to be confident in.

Current favourite for this, and looks to have good form. Broomfield Burg definitely have the right profile for a race of this nature.

He beat Black Poppy at long odds-on last time out in a race he should be winning, prior to that he was a good second in a competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham behind Lively Citizen with Royaume Uni back in third.

Broomfield Burg didn't look too straight forward on that occasion however, hanging left under pressure.

You can expect he would have improved from his most recent win and with a profile that suits this race, he cannot be dismissed. 

His second last time out to Supreme Novice favourite Constitution Hill reads well, albeit he was well beat. Prior to that he was the winner of a maiden and novice hurdle by a cumulative 15L.

He's definitely unexposed although the substance of his form could be questioned.

He may well be improving and could be in with a shout. He is in with a shout at the weights, but I think he might just come up short in this company. 

Last years second in this race to Soaring Glory reads well. You could argue he's not quite kicked on from his form last year.

He's not hit the frame in any of his three starts this season, but the bare form and strength of the field reads well. However, his three starts this season have all been over fences.

Reverting back to hurdles here off a handy mark in a race he ran so well in last year, he's hard to confidently dismiss. 

Another exciting novice from a trainer in good form. Jpr One could potentially be thrown in here of a mark of 130, he's had the three runs to date.

On his first start, he won a novice hurdle at Exeter that is working out well. He then backed up his evident promise, finishing a neck second in a Cheltenham G2, when throwing away 1st place.

He looked rather green up the run in there and could easily have won.

He then ran in another novice hurdle at Taunton and won easily by 6L against inferior rivals, the handicapper has given him a huge chance here of this lowly mark - on what could well be a G1 performer.

Royaume Uni has a lot of collateral form with today's rivals. He is exposed albeit at quite a good level.

He might well outrun his odds but you'd expect the horses he's placed behind, (First Street, Broomfield Burg). He is nicely weighted and from a yard in good form, I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss him.

One of the outsiders of the field, Lord Baddesley simply must improve to get involved here in an ultra competitive affair.

His form this season has been uninspiring, and he's failed to complete twice. His other two starts this season were decent efforts, but in races that will be nowhere near as competitive as this.