Champion Hurdle Aspirants put Reputations on Line
19/11/2005
Last season’s top juvenile hurdlers Penzance and Faasel are among the five-day entries for Saturday’s Casino 36 Classic Nerak Hurdle at Haydock. They were first and second respectively in the Triumph Hurdle and have both been backed from 20-1 into 14-1 with VC Bet in the last week.

VC Bet’s Neal Wilkins commented “A bold display this Saturday from either of the protagonists would force them right into the forefront of the betting for the Champion Hurdle. Both horses have been significantly supported with us over the last seven days, no doubt, in anticipation of promising reappearances”.

VC Bet

Champion Hurdle

Hardy Eustace 5/1
Harchibald 6/1
Brave Inca 7/1
Lingo 10/1
Faasel 14/1
Penzance 14/1
Arcalis 14/1
Mephisto 20/1
Essex 20/1
Macs Joy 20/1
Back In Front 20/1
Al Eile 25/1
Feathard Lady 25/1
United 33/1
Akilak 40/1

Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3.

LINGO IMPRESSES AFTER LAY-OFF

JP McManus’ Lingo who had been off the course for 680 days after landing the 2004 Tolworth Hurdle shot into contention for the Champion Hurdle following his 3 1/2 length victory in Cheltenham’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. Gambled on from 8-1 down to 5-1 and attracting a single wager of £650,000 to £100,000 each way, Lingo was always travelling well under Tony McCoy and came clear after jumping the last to take the best part of a million pounds out of the ring.

In doing so he leapt To the fore-front of the market for the Champion Hurdle and was slashed from 33-1 down to 10-1 fourth favourite with VC Bet. Neal Wilkins from VC Bet commented “Lingo is very lightly raced because of his long absence and he showed that he possesses the right mixture of speed and stamina. He would not be the first massive improver to win a Champion Hurdle – Make a Stand comes quickly to mind”.

VC Bet

Champion Hurdle

Hardy Eustace 5/1
Harchibald 6/1
Brave Inca 7/1
Lingo 10/1
Arcalis 14/1
Faasel 14/1
Penzance 16/1
Macs Joy 20/1
Al Eile 20/1
Essex 20/1
Back In Front 20/1
Mephisto 20/1
Feathard Lady 25/1
Akilak 33/1
United 33/1

Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3.