Triumph Hurdle 2006 Betting Advice

Saturday's star-studded card at Sandown saw the emergence of a live candidate for next month's Triumph Hurdle in the shape of the Philip Hobbs-trained Detroit City. Watching the strapping grey in his paces is very much reminiscent of the ill-fated Rooster Booster, who sported the same distinctive yellow silks of owner Terry Warner. Detroit City's slick hurdling and speed saw him easily beat Royals Darling by seven lengths in the Anthony Baker Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at the Esher venue, and the four-year-old is now a top-priced 10-1 with Blue Square for the juvenile hurdlers showpiece at the Festival. Currenty, Willie Mullins' Mister Hight, a decent sort on the Flat who made a seemless transition to hurdling with a facile victory on his debut at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, heads most bookies' lists and is a best-priced 7-1 with VCBet. The Barking-based firm make Nicky Henderson's charge Afsoun joint favourite in their list. The Lambourn handler is also responsible for Blue Shark, an easy winner of a competitive heat on his UK debut at Chepstow over the Christmas period, who can be backed at 12-1. The second in that Grade One contest at the Welsh track, Turko, is a top-priced 14-1 with VCBet for the Triumph.