Zaynar Defeat Turns Champion Hurdle Betting On Its Head!

The Champion Hurdle betting took another astonishing twist with the shock defeat of 1-14 chance Zaynar at Kelso this afternoon.

The Champion Hurdle second-favourite faced just four rivals in the two-mile, two-furlong contest but failed to shine, capitulating to Quwetwo – who based on official marks was rated 35lbs inferior to Nicky Henderson’s charge.

William Hill responded by doubling the Champion Hurdle odds of Zaynar out to 8-1 from 4-1, and cutting ante-post favourite Solwhit to 3-1 from 7-2. Leading Irish contender Go Native now takes the second-favourite’s spot with a cut to 4-1 from 5-1.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’The Champion Hurdle betting has taken more twists than an Agatha Christie novel. It was already a difficult task to pinpoint a fancy, and now the race looks a complete conundrum for punters.’’

Champion Hurdle: 3-1 Solwhit, 4-1 Go Native, 8-1 Zaynar, 9-1 Khyber Kim, 10-1 Punjabi, 11-1 Medermit, 14-1 Starluck, 16-1 Celestial Halo, 20-1 Sublimity, 40-1 Donnas Palm, 50-1 Quevega, 66-1 Jumbo Rio, Royal and Regal, 100 Al Eile, Ebadiyan, Muirhead, Won in the Dark, 150-1 Blue Bajan, 200-1 Fiulin, Kargali, Raise Your Heart - (EW Ľ 1-2-3)

Champion Hurdle Changes:
Solwhit now 3-1 from 7-2
Go Native 4-1 from 5-1
Punjabi 10-1 from 11-1
Medermit 11-1 from 12-1

Zaynar out to 8-1 from 4-1

Arkle:
Quwetwo 20-1 from 66-1