Cheltenham Festival: Champion Hurdle early look

The Champion Hurdle on March 11 is the most open of this year's championship races and given that Sublimity won last year's contest at 33/1, you could argue that it is the most competitive full stop. Click here for a free £50 cash match bet to bet on the Champion Hurdle with VCBet Sublimity lines up once more to defend his crown, although Ladbrokes go a dismissive 5/1 after his flop behind Osana in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Prestbury Park in December. Osana slammed Sublimity by 18 lengths that day and had the likes of Penzance, Katchit, Straw Bear and last year's champion hurdle third Afsoun trailing in his wake. Osana is a best-priced 5/1 with Paddy Power, and although he was allowed an easy lead that day, he looks to have solid credentials for the Festival hurdle. The mantle of favouritism however falls to Sizing Europe, who has been a revelation this season. Sizing Europe got the better of Osana in the Greatwood Handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November. Although the current market leader won by three lengths that day, the weight advantage that he enjoyed made things considerably easier. Sizing Europe's latest effort however was top class and in beating dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace by eight lengths, he proved that he is certainly one of the best hurdlers in Britain and Ireland right now. After his disgraceful efforts in the past, particularly when completely worried out of it by Straw Bear at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle, it is surprising to see Harchibald trade at as short as 7/1 with VCbet. Straw Bear has showed himself to be a quirky individual of late and while he has bags of ability, his three-and-a-half length defeat to Afsoun at Sandown at the beginning of the month highlights his hit-and-miss nature. Still, at 25/1 we would rather back Jonjo O'Neill's gelding than Harchibald any day of the week. The mare Amaretto Rose is an interesting contender as she has just six runs under her belt, four of which are wins. She came up against Ebaziyan in the Supreme Novice Hurdle last year at the Festival, finishing third and it will be interesting to see if Nicky Henderson can get a prep run into her before March. There are worse bets than backing her each-way at 25/1. Click here for a free £50 cash match bet to bet on the Champion Hurdle with VCBet Click here for an early look at Cheltenham's Gold Cup 2008 betting market Click here for an early look at Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase 2008 betting market