Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle Free Bets Tips

Arcalis (33/1 with Bet365) should have been placed in this race last season had he not been ridden from so far off the pace (beaten by a length and a half for fourth, after having just one behind him two out).

And it would not surprise me at all if sneaky old Howard Johnson had trained him for this race all season as he knows he needs decent ground, which he looks like getting – and he is 5lbs lower this season.

His Festival record catches the eye having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, finished fifth in the Champion Hurdle, and fifth and seventh in the County Hurdle (the first time beaten by only two lengths). The truth is, there are worse big-priced outsiders around than him even if he is a ten-year-old.

As for the likeliest winner, I really fancied Noble Prince (10/1 with Paddy Power) (for the 2m5f handicap hurdle so was surprised when they told us he was running here instead. I do think this is a Grade 1 horse at 2m4f, and they may have wanted to run him on the Friday as he is a good ground horse plus, of course, they won’t hang around here over 2m1f.

The novices Bellvano (10/1 with Victor Chandler) and Tito Bustillo (8/1 with Paddy Power) are also major players, so they would be my four against the field.

County Hurdle Tips

• Back Arcalis @ 33/1 with Bet365
• Back Noble Prince @ 10/1 with Paddy Power
• Back Bellvano @ 10/1 with Victor Chandler