Hitman has been the subject of a sizeable gamble for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle following his promising fourth behind Geos in the Bonusprint Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham last Saturday.
Coral Eurobet cut Mark Pitman`s five-year-old to 12-1 from 33-1 while William Hill go 10-1 from 40-1 and Ladbrokes have shortened Hitman`s price to 16-1 from 40-1. Hitman is 14-1 from 33-1 with the Tote for the hurdlers` crown.
Connections remain puzzled by the flop of Hors La Loi III in the Bula.
The 6-1 chance was weak in the market before the race and never looked like making a serious impact, dropping out of contention before the home turn and eventually being pulled up by Andrew Thornton.
Thornton said afterwards: 'If he`d finished third or fourth, you`d say he wasn`t good enough, but he was beaten down the far side.'
And trainer James Fanshawe reported today: 'Nothing has come to light so far but we are getting the horse thoroughly checked over.'
Smurfit Champion Hurdle betting:
Coral Eurobet: 8-13 Istabraq, 9-1 Ashley Park, 12-1 Hors La Loi III, Hitman (from 33-1), 14-1 Barton, 16-1 bar.
William Hill: 4-6 Istabraq, 8-1 Ashley Park, 10-1 Hitman (from 40-1), 14-1 Geos, Barton, 16-1 Hors La Loi III, 25-1 Happy Change, 33-1 bar.
Tote: 10-11 Istabraq, 8-1 Asley park, 14-1 Barton, Geos, Hitman (from 33-1), 16-1 Hors La Loi III, 25-1 bar.
