All bets off and on again in fascinating Champion Hurdle

The way things are going it might be worth popping along to the Irish National Stud, hosing the mud off Hurricane Fly and supplementing him for the Champion Hurdle. He wouldn't be a long price for a third success.

Next month it's unlikely that we will see an all-time great crowned in the two-mile hurdle championship for the simple reason that so many candidates were busy doing something else before circumstance changed their plans. There are precious few specialists on the premises, and because of this the perception is widening that this is a sub-standard year, a 40-watt highlight, the Chumpion Hurdle.

Look at the betting now and it goes novice chaser, two-mile hurdler, novice chaser, staying hurdler, handicap hurdler, staying hurdler, jill-of-all-trades, perennial nearly horse, handicap hurdler. It's the permanent cure for ante-post betting, it's like one of those hoary old films that bring a bunch of unlikely lads together in order to heartwarmingly forge them into a potent fighting force. Thinking about it, you can have 6-1 the statue of Hurricane Fly, small bets only to current clients.