The Betfair Hurdle: your essential runner-by-runner guide

Betfair Super Saturday is looming and let’s hope a number of British-trained horses can produce top-notch performances as a riposte to a number of dazzling displays by Irish runners at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival.

The most valuable handicap hurdle of the season, the £150,000 Betfair Hurdle, takes centre stage and there will be a little more room to manouevre than usual with 14 declared.

Final fields of 20 and more have been regular – 27 took part in 2003 - but it still looks like being as competitive as ever with the sponsors going 5-1 the field.

Here’s a guide.

Andy rating (out of 10): 7. Betfair odds: 6-1

Well served by the demands of big-field handicaps and seeks to repeat his victory of 12 months ago (watch above). However, he’s 14lb higher in the ratings and the only previous back-to-back winner has been Rosyth, who won the first two renewals in 1963-64. The only winner to carry 11st 12lb or more to victory was the mighty Persian War in 1968.

Rating: 7. Odds: 9-1

Won at this track on the Flat but his three wins over hurdles have all been on right-handed tracks, including when landing a valuable handicap hurdle off a 5lb lower mark at Ascot just before Christmas. He wasn’t in the same form when upped in class last time but no surprise if he bounces back, for all that others make more appeal.

Rating: 7. Odds: 20-1

It might have passed you by, but he won the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October and he seemed to excel last time when chasing home Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle, with Soaring Glory and Tritonic (both worse off at the weights with him) behind. Others less exposed and, at 7, he would be the oldest winner since 2004.

Rating: 6. Odds: 14-1

The son of Golden Horn is bred for the Flat but has won three of his four starts over hurdles, impressing when winning easily at Kempton last time (watch above) when dropped back to 2m after a wind op. That race in the mud lacked depth, though, and a 9lb rise in the ratings demands plenty more from him.

Rating: 7. Odds: 8-1

Novices have a tremendous record in this race and he’s one of six of them in the line-up. Was making it three out of three over hurdles when landing a Grade Two prize at Cheltenham in November and he wasn’t seen to best advantage behind Jonbon at Ascot last time. Probably on a fair mark but does need to brush up his jumping.

Rating: 6.5. Odds: 8-1

The seven-year-old has had only four runs under Rules, hinting at issues, but looked exciting when winning on his hurdling bow at Taunton and, having been off 11 months, was a big eye-catcher at Ascot in late October. Ran tamely on his next start over fences, though, and not easy to know what to expect here. Wears a first-time tongue-tie.

Rating: 8. Odds: 5-1

He was a leading bumper performer last season and made the most of straightforward tasks at Chepstow and Wincanton on his first two starts over hurdles before finishing third to Jonbon in a muddling contest at Ascot last time. A mark of 135 may well underestimate him, although form of his stable has to be a niggle.

Rating: 8.5. Odds: 5-1

He’s shown plenty of speed/ability in his races, but flattered to deceive when beaten at Newbury in November (in novice company) and Cheltenham (a handicap) the following month. Made the most of an easy task at Kempton last time and it will be a surprise if he’s not on the premises, but will he knuckle down when it matters most?

Rating: 7. Odds: 8-1

A likeable front-running novice who chased home Constitution Hill in the Tolworth last time, albeit beng no match for him. There are more races to be won with him, especially over fences next term, but 2m on drying ground on a flat track are unlikely to be ideal scenario for a horse proven over further in the mud.

Rating: 6.5 Odds: 9-1

Ran a blinder in last year’s renewal when beating all bar Soaring Glory and he’s able to compete off the same mark. However, he’s run poorly over fences on his past two starts and others are more persuasive for win purposes.

Rating: 10. Odds: 5-1

No experience on the Flat or in points but has quickly made up into a smart novice, winning at Exeter (beat solid yardsticks) and Taunton plus finishing runner-up at Cheltenham (caught close home) in between. Has impressed with his jumping/professionalism and starts out in handicaps on a favourable mark with more to come.

Rating: 6. Odds: 33-1

Failed to win in five starts when trained in Ireland last season but has chalked up three wins for his new yard, including in a handicap at Ffos Las on his penultimate start. An earlier defeat at Cheltenham points to limitations, though, and I’m not convinced 2m on a flat track/drying ground will play to his strengths.

Rating: 5.5 Odds: 16-1

Well-in relative to his Flat rating but he’s chalked up only one win from eight starts over hurdles, off a 7lb lower mark at Plumpton in the autumn, and it’s easy enough to look elsewhere. Well adrift of First Street last time, although does get a 10lb pull with that rival.

Timeform rating: 5. Odds: 40-1

His exploits last season included a win in a novices’ hurdle over course and distance, but not much to shout about this term over either fences or hurdles. Pulled up in the race that First Street won last time despite plenty of market support.

Nine of the past dozen renewals have been won by a novice and no fewer than seven of those victors had been having their first run in a handicap.

Six triumphed off a mark in the 130s and, with the exception of Get Me Out Of Here and Ballyandy, all of them had suffered at least one defeat en route.

That all augurs well for JPR ONE, who has made a bright start to his career and looks on a favourable mark for his switch to handicap company. He makes plenty of appeal, with two other novices - Broomfield Birg and Knappers Hill - feared most.

1 JPR ONE 2 BROOMFIELD BURG 3 KNAPPERS HILL