IN-RUNNING TRADING HINTS
I am almost certain that Cue Card will travel like the winner for much of the opening contest (1.30pm), but there is a danger he won’t find an awful lot off the bridle. Therefore, it may pay to back him on Betdaq pre-race at around the 3.2 mark and then look to lay your stake back and more at odds-on approaching the second last flight. He may well win, but I am not prepared to find out if he’ll come up the hill and would prefer to lock in a profit whatever the result.
The key to the Champion Hurdle is the number of contenders who have the potential to travel sweetly off the pace. Oscar Whisky, Hurricane Fly, Dunguib and Mille Chief are the obvious four who could easily still be on the bridle turning for home.
However, the battle hardened pair of Menorah and Peddlers Cross have come up the hill before and may find more when push comes to shove. Don’t get sucked in to backing the ‘travellers’ in-running and it’s proved more profitable over time to hit the ‘lay’ button rather than the ‘back’ one.
Overturn looks the most likely pace angle in the race as he is sure to make it a searching gallop.
Interestingly it may pay to adopt a back-to-lay policy with him as if he opens up on the front end, he may prove a difficult one to pass. If he is still in front rounding the home turn, there is no way he can still trade at 50.0 or bigger.