BOYLESPORTS INTERNATIONAL HURDLE BETTING TIPS

The 2009 Boylesports International Hurdle runs at 3:05 at Cheltenham on Saturday and it looks a distinctly easier puzzle to solve than the Gold Cup. The punters are piling onto Celestial Halo here and his price is starting to shorten on the betting exchanges. He was initially listed at evens and was quickly clipped to 10/11. He is now available at 4/6 with a number of top bookmakers and is proving to be a major selection for the #1 slot on the forecast tickets.
At this point, it really just looks like a two-horse race.
I’m a big fan of Celestial Halo, and I actually have him in my ten to follow, I think Paul Nicholls yard is in cracking form in the big races so far this year and Halo looked very progressive in the totescoop6 Elite Hurdle where he bested a talented field of 7. Punjabi got the better of him back in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but this will be Punjabi’s first outing of the season and while he’s the only other real plausible contender, I think Celestial Halo’s previous trip out could be the difference here.
Punjabi is solidly-priced out at around 5/2 or 9/4 with most major bookmakers and he’s capable of winning this, but I would really prefer for him to have gotten a race, and preferably a win, under his belt before this. He scored at Grade 1 level last year and was challenging a number of talented runners. I think Celestial Halo is in better form this year than last and Punjabi will need a near perfect race to beat the 5 year-old.
Medermit had a solid outing in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing 2nd to Go Native. He got involved in the Grade 3 Greatwood Handicap at Cheltenham in mid-November and finished 3rd against a field of 15. He stayed on well, but was outclassed by Khyber Kim. Alan King’s charge is listed at around 8/1 or so with most major bookmakers.
Speaking of Khyber Kim, he’s going to be lining up in this one as well and Nigel Twiston-Davies 7 year-old jumper will be looking for two on the bounce here. I don’t think he’s going to be able to match up against the likes of Celestial Halo and Punjabi, but he certainly could challenge for a place position. His win the Greatwood was his first score in nearly 2 years and there have been plenty of indifferent races in between those two. He’s solidly-priced at 10/1, but I’m staying out of this one.
My selections for the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham are Celestial Halo to win with Punjabi 2 lengths back.