There's a few Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets that are particularly exploitable at the moment - the Stayers' Hurdle being one of them.
At 5/1 the field, it looks a wide-open division, which in turn means there's plenty of value to be found.
Flooring Porter is an obvious favourite as he bids for the three-peat. But there's reason to take him on - be it the arguably sub-par reappearance in the Lismullen Hurdle or the likelihood that Gavin Cromwell's seven-year-old is unlikely to get everything his own way for a third time come March.
The two-time champ shares favouritism with Charles Byrnes' Blazing Khal, who was the ante-post favourite for last season's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle before he unfortunately got injured and spent the rest of the campaign on the sidelines.
Byrnes recently confirmed he'd suffered another setback, and won't be seen until after Christmas - can he really be trusted?
Klassical Dream at 7/1 became a significantly more attractive bet after he finished ahead of the now-defeated Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace in early December - and if that's a good price, what about the winner Teahupoo at 10/1?
Gordon Elliott has suggested he may look towards the Stayers' with the now Grade One-winning five-year-old, and that's certainly something that tickles my fancy.
Latest Stayers' Hurdle Ante-Post Odds
State Man and Buzz are both 12/1 shots, but the former is almost certainly Champion Hurdle-bound and the latter is on the comeback trail after a near life-ending injury.
Arguably the one that most interests me is Bob Olinger at 14/1.
He blew up in the home straight when looking the most likely winner of the Lismullen, but was a long way clear of Flooring Porter and if he comes on for the run and step up in trip, those odds may seriously underestimate him.
After that you're looking at a pair of fan-favourites in Champ and Paisley Park at 16/1, who are great horses but surely wouldn't be up to winning a Grade One at the Festival at their age.
Mares' Hurdle winner Marie's Rock is one to take very seriously also at 16/1 should she go down that route. Her trainer Nicky Henderson has hinted that could be the case, and I wouldn't put anyone off backing her.
Similar sentiments apply to Home By The Lee, who is available at 20/1. He actually won the Lismullen - why would you turn your nose up at that?
Cheltenham Festival Betting Odds
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