INITIAL instinct when faced with a 4/1 favourite in a 22-runner handicap is to try to find reasons why he is under-priced and why, consequently, at least one of his rivals are over-priced, and to bet accordingly. With Blazer in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury this afternoon, however, that is not such an easy thing to do.

J.P. McManus’ horse could be one of the best-handicapped horses to contest a big handicap hurdle in recent years. He gets to race under just a 5lb penalty, despite the fact that he has been raised 12lb by the Irish handicapper for winning at Leopardstown on Saturday.