Horse Racing betting: Ladbroke Hurdle

The Ladbroke Hurdle at 2.15pm looks fiendishly difficult again this year and the bookmakers are not giving anything away either by going 7/1 the field. The fact that there have been 25/1, 14/1 and 33/1 winners in three of the last four years suggests the sort of conundrum punters face at Ascot and it could pay to look further down the betting lists for the victor. VCbet make Jack the Giant a best-priced 7/1 for the 2m feature, although Paddy Power and Boylesports go 4/1 about Nicky Henderson's five-year-old. Jack the Giant sneaks into the line-up off 11st and comes in to the contest having hacked up at Cheltenham eight days ago under jockey Mick Fitzgerald. Henderson is taking advantage of the fact that the favourite's hurdle rating is almost 30lbs lower than his chase rating after a fine campaign last season over the bigger obstacles. The trick worked last week and it will be interesting to see how he does with a penalty here. However it is another horse about whose price Paddy Power and Boylesports both disagree with VCbet, that should interest punters more. Irish trainer Willie Mullins brings over Viso for this lucrative prize (the winner receives almost £85,000) and it is telling that Irish firms Boylesports go 7/1 and Paddy Power go 8/1. VCbet go 10/1. Viso has won his last three starts, two of which have been this season, and winning in fields of 19, 15 and 16 runners will stand him in good stead for the hurly-burly of this contest. His performances have not been lost on the official handicapper however, and as his performances have excelled, his rating has risen. The four-year-old is sure to give a good account of himself, particularly when steered by Tony McCoy, and if anyone has a VCbet account, the 10/1 is a fair price. The two to concentrate on though look to be Trouble At Bay and Chivalry. The latter seems to be on the comeback trail this season having finished a fine third to Osana and Sizing Europe in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. The manner in which Osana brushed aside rivals in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend suggests that the Greatwood form is very strong and both Trouble at Bay, who finished fourth that day, and Chivalry looked overpriced. VCbet go 12/1 about Chivalry, and a massive 20/1 about Trouble At Bay, both of which look exceptional value, despite the difficult nature of the race. Others to consider are Phillip Hobbs's Missis Potts who is looking for her fifth victory in her last six starts and Charlie Mann's under-rated Kanad, who has the beating of the better-fancied Roman Villa. Trainer of the moment Paul Nicholls saddles Poquelin, who was defeated by the ground last time, and also looks forgotten at 20/1. Verdict: 1pt E/W Chivalry @ 10/1 (VCbet); 1pt E/W Trouble At Bay @ 20/1 (VCbet)