Andy Stewart owner of Cheltenham favourites Big Bucks and Poquelin says both are in fantastic form ahead of this year’s festival.
Big Bucks last year’s World Hurdle winner is currently as short as 8/13 (William Hill) to repeat the feat and has been in good form so far this season with two wins at Newbury.
“He is very well and on paper is the one to beat but the price is far too skinny for the calibre of race. I’d be very disappointed if he doesn’t win and stay at the top of the staying hurdle tree.”
“Poquelin will go straight to Cheltenham for the Ryanair. He is taken very well to jumping this season and has only been beaten once, which was in the Paddy Power behind Tranquil Sea. On quick ground it will take a very good horse to beat him” added Stewart.
The Paul Nicholls trained Poquelin is currently a 4-1 favourite with Ladbrokes to take the prize at Cheltenham. However, Stewart wasn’t as confident about the chances of last year’s Champion Hurdle second Celestial Halo currently a 16-1(Ladbrokes) shot to go one better this year.
“I’d be delighted if he’d come second again. He looked good on his re-appearance at Wincanton but seems to have gone backward since then. He ran very flat at Leopardstown last time out and last year’s Champion form hasn’t been working out very well”
Follow this link to William Hill to see all the prices for the 2010 Cheltenham Festival