Betting Tips - JCB Triumph Hurdle

Of all the vibes and whispers that invariably comes as part and parcel of a big meeting like the Cheltenham Festival, some you choose to heed and some you choose to rebuff as conjecture. However, the level of confidence behind Mister Hight for Friday's JCB Triumph Hurdle has become infectious, and I reckon that the 4/1 Blue Square are offering might look pretty generous shortly after 2pm on the fourth and final day of this year's Festival. A real bubble burst when Sweet Wake failed to live up to his billing in Tuesday's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but one senses that the Willie Mullins-trained Mister Hight may deliver. A useful sort who held his own in very smart handicap company on the level, the son of Take Risks has set the pulse racing with his two starts over timber to date, storming home by twenty lengths in a Punchestown maiden hurdle before readily landing a Grade Two at Leopardstown on his most recent start. Although the going is likely to be a tad quicker on Friday than he has encountered over hurdles thus far, he was suited by genuine good ground on the Flat and, with his mix of speed and stamina, I reckon that he is tailor made for this test and is a strong fancy. Detroit City would be a popular winner, a striking resembelance to the admirable abnd sadly ill-fated Rooster Booster, being a grey who sports the yellow silks of owner Terry Warner. A decent sort on the level with Jeremy Noseda, the four-year-old disappointed on his hurdling bow but quickly atoned for that below par display by winning his next two starts, beating Royals Darling at Newbury and then beating the same horse in good style at Sandown last month. He is a slick hurdler, who travels well in his races and should be thereabouts. Nicky Henderson raised concerns regarding Afsoun last week, citing that his charge hadn't eaten up and didn't seem 100 per cent within himself. He wouldn't let the French-bred run if he wasn't sure he would do himself justice, but it's disconcerting all the same, as there is no margin for error in races like this and horses need to arrive for such contests at the peak of their powers. It would be wise to monitor him closely in the betting, which may offer most clues as to his wellbeing. French raider Kasbah Bliss was rewarded for some solid efforts in defeat when ridden out to beat Blazing Bailey on soft going at Sandown recently. The pair were a distance clear of the remainder, suggesting that the form is potentially decent, and Francois Doumen's charge merits respect. The runner-up there shouldn't be omitted from calculations. He was impressive on his debut and wouldn't have been ideally suited by the testing conditions at the Esher track. He will be much more at home on the better ground on Friday and has each-way claims at a adecent price.