2012/13 NH Season and the World Hurdle

It has been a real privilege to see BIG BUCKS win a record number of World Hurdles. Every year the layers take him on and offer odds against and every time he rises to the challenge. 6/4 is on offer again, which has to be better value than 5/4 about Sprinter Sacre but nevertheless is too short ante post, with him getting older and more prone to injury or deterioration of his talents. I honestly thought VOLER LA VEDETTE came to win the race last year and did everything tactically to avoid getting into a battle with BIG BUCKS but still the beast fought back. Connections of the champion are treading the same path as last year and at the moment it is impossible to see any other result. However he cannot carry on forever and opposing short priced horses at the festival will make money in the long run. The problem is it is difficult to find credible opposition. If VOLER LA VEDETTE re-opposes she has to be in the mix, as does SMAD PLACE who ran a very creditable race in 3rd considering it was only his second race of the season and he was only 5 years old. Connections are going to give him one more hurdle race to see they should stay in that sphere or go chasing. I have backed him for the RSA Chase and will back in his first hurdle race to get my stake back if he wins. If he does win and connections decide to stay hurdling I will strongly consider a bet each way at 8/1 or bigger. At this stage I cannot really consider any other runner for an ante post bet. Indeed on reflection the 25/1 with Chandlers is tempting even though he may go chasing, but fortunately or unforunately they closed my account some time ago, (#notaproperbookieanymore) WILLIE MULLINS (Thousand Stars, Mourad and Quevega) and ALAN KING (Lovcen-will be given 1 race over hurdles possibly the 3 mile hurdle at Paddy Power meeting to decide his future), are trainers who if they have a runner in the World Hurdle have to be respected and I will be monitoring their entries for the race. However Mourad has had his chances, Quevega will go for the Mares Hurdle again and Thousand Stars as amazingly tough as he is has to be too exposed for this season. Of others quoted in the betting. Oscar Whiskey had his best chance last year and didn't appear to get the trip. Zarkandar is going for the Champion Hurdle and it is never good idea backing credible champion hurdle contenders for this race and Countrywide Flame is a 5 year old and similarly it is never a good idea backing such animals in this race. Peddlers Cross could develop into challenger, but if the trainer is not sure of his target then how can I be? TO IDENTIFY NEW CONTENDERS EXAMINE AND CONSIDER a) ANY NEW HORSE THAT TRADES AT 40.0 OR LESS ON BETFAIR b) RETURNS A RPR >= 159 IN A 3m+ RACE C) CONTESTS LONG DISTANCE HURDLE NEWBURY NOVEMBER; LONG WALK HURDLE ASCOT DECEMBER; CLEEVE HURDLE CHELTENHAM JANUARY; RENDELSHAM HURDLE HAYDOCK FEBRUARY; d) WINS A GRADED HURDLE DURING THE SEASON