Sky Bet offer 11/8 for an Irish-trained winner of the Champion Hurdle after another humiliating whitewash for the Gaelic raiders last year.
The Irish have not even had a runner placed in the past two renewals banishing memories of Irish domination in the race with the mighty Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca over the past decade.
It’s 8/15 with Sky Bet for a third successive British-trained winner of the hurdling showpiece following on from the victories of Punjabi last year and Katchit in 2008.
Sublimity was the last Irish-trained winner three years ago when he led home a 1-2 from defending champion Brave Inca.
Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: ‘The Irish may have the favourite this year in Go Native and a stronger numerical entry, but the setback to Solwhit and scratching of Sublimity has weakened their challenge.’
For punters left sweating on the participation of Binocular and Solwhit in the Champion Hurdle field, Sky Bet has priced up a market on who will come out best should they both run.
Sky Bet offer Solwhit at 4/6 in the Comeback Kings special, while last year’s third Binocular is 11/10 to win the straight match bet in which both must be declared or all bets void.
Among a host of other Irish specials, there is betting without Dunguib in the Supreme Novices’ and a J P McManus special with the legendary owner 1/2 to lead in most winners at the Festival.
Doyle added: ‘JP will be out to improve on his current tally of 31 winners at the Festival and numbers Captain Cee Bee in the Arkle and Garde Champetre in the Cross Country among his leading hopes.’
Although Dunguib has been taken out of the Champion Hurdle, he leads a strong Irish team into battle on the first day and Sky Bet make it 33/1 Irish-trained runners go through the card.
Sky Bet Champion Hurdle specials:
British-trained winner – 8/15
Irish-trained winner – 11-8
The Comeback Kings match bet
4/6 Solwhit v 11/10 Binocular
Sky Bet Irish specials:
Total Irish-trained winners at the Festival:
Over 7 and up to and including ten winners - Evens
Over 4 wins and up to and including 7 – 13/8
Over 10 winners – 11/2
Up to and including four winners – 10/1
No of first day Irish-trained winners
Under 4 winners – 5/4
Exactly 4 winners – 6/4
Over 4 winners – 3/1
All six winners – 33/1
Sky Bet winning distance market:
How far will Dunguib win by?
Up to and including 3 lengths – 9/2
Over 3 lengths and up to and including 6 lengths – 9/2
Over 6 lengths and up to and including 9 lengths – 9/2
Over 9 lengths – 3/1
JP McManus specials
JP to have most winners at the Cheltenham Festival: 1/2
Any owner other than JP to have most winners at the meeting: 6/4
