John Smith's Hurdle Betting Tips

Last season's leading staying novice hurdler Black Jack Ketchum is set to reappear in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday when he will lock horns with World Hurdle hero My Way de Solzen. Black Jack Ketchum remains unbeaten following seven career starts, landing two bumpers in 2004 and then carrying all before him during his novice campaign over timber last term, winning all five of his outings, including impressive victories at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. It's hard to find fault with the seven-year-old. He is a slick hurdler, travels well and, surprisingly for a horse with so much stamina, possesses a real turn of foot. A top-priced 9/4 to prevail in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next March, Jonjo O'Neill's charge is 4/6 with bet365 for this Grade 2 contest. My Way de Solzen is quoted at 7/4 for Saturday's race with bet365 and is generally a 10/1 chance to complete a World Hurdle double in March. The Alan King-trained gelding failed to justify favouritism on his last outing of the 2005/06 campaign when readily outpointed by Mighty Man. However, the drying ground and that flat track wouldn't have played to the strengths of this French import, who is at his best when there's an appreciable amount of juice in the ground and on galloping track. Wetherby will be far more conducive to his style of racing and, with the ground likely to be on the soft side of good, the six-year-old should make a race of it with Black Jack Ketchum. The Howard Johnson team will rely on No Refuge, who was a well-held third behind Mighty Man and My Way de Solzen at Aintree, and was never in the hunt when thirteenth in the World Hurdle. On his day, he is a class act, as he demonstrated when landing the penultimate renewal of the Sun Alliance Hurdle, but his sketchy hurdling often lets him down and there will be no margin for error on Saturday. No Refuge is available at 8/1 with bet365, ahead of Royal Emperor and Tees Components, both of whom are offered at 14/1 with the Staffordshire-based firm. Runner-up to Gralmano in this race in 2003, Royal Emperor has been in and out over the past couple of seasons, mixing hurdling and chasing, but proved that he retains plenty of ability when beaten just over half a length when third to Run For Paddy in the Scottish National at Ayr in April. Sue Smith's grey should ensure that a decent pace ensues and any further rain between now and Saturday will play to the ten-year-old's strengths. Conversely, Black Jack Ketchum's stablemate Fire Dragon, winner of the re-routed Cleeve Hurdle at Sandown last season, would prefer a decent surface. He is 16/1 along with Redemption for this 3m1f event.