2023 Elite Hurdle Tips
Rubaud won’t be easily beaten when it comes to the Jenningsbet Elite Hurdle, with the five-year-old having landed a string of recent victories. The latest of these came in October at Kempton Park, with the horse winning a listed race by nearly three lengths. That came after winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in what was a highly competitive encounter.
The charge travelled strongly throughout the two mile trip and was able to edge out Colonel Mustard by three lengths in the end, with this definitely being the horse to beat here. However, Hansard returns for a seasonal debut and there has to be respect afforded to the Gary Moore-trained charge based on previous efforts.
In the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse, the runner was sent off at odds of 40/1 before finishing a credible fourth place behind Inthepocket, Strong Leader and Luccia. However, this horse has fifteen lengths to find on Rubaud after the pair ran in the same race at Kempton back in February and perhaps that’s too much of a gap to bridge.
West Balboa is a seven-year-old with solid credentials and there was plenty to like about a performance in the Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle at Aintree, with the Dan Skelton-trained charge obliging by five lengths over three miles. The horse previously won the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton and this looks a decent each-way shout.
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