For my selection this afternoon we are off north of the border to Kelso where CYRUS DARIUS is looking to claim the 14:25 Class 2 hurdle. He was a winner of this race twelve months ago under very similar circumstances and I'm fancying a repeat performance today.
Since that victory, he went on to compete in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival where he raced against some of the best around but did not take to the ground and finished ninth with Buveur D'Air winning the race. That was his last run over hurdles and he has had three runs over fences since last March.
On his first run over fences he won a Class 3 chase up at Ayr but since then he has produced two disappointing runs with the latest coming at Wetherby over Christmas. He was never fluent and the mistake-ridden run ended with him finishing third and connections, therefore, are fancying a switch back to hurdles.
Sadly his trainer Malcolm Jefferson sadly passed away two weeks ago and it would sure to be an emotional affair if he could claim the win this afternoon. Brian Hughes, King of the North, is in the saddle. He knows the horse very well and he is the just the man I'd want doing the steering. He's currently priced 3/1 with most bookmakers and with only five runners lining up and a welcome switch back to hurdles, I'd recommend a 1pt win only bet on Cyrus Darius.
