The highly anticipated Betfair Hurdle is set to take place at Newbury this Saturday, presenting one of the most fiercely competitive handicaps outside the renowned Cheltenham Festival.
With an enticing prize fund of £155,000 on the line, every contender will be vying for their piece of the lucrative pie. Notably, novices have historically performed admirably in this event, and Liam Bramall appears to have discovered a promising talent poised for success. Priced at 20-1, this ante-post pick offers exceptional value for astute punters. Kamsinas (20-1) has demonstrated a consistent and commendable track record in novice hurdles thus far. However, it appears that his abilities may fall short when it comes to competing in the high-profile Grade 1 races. Consequently, handicaps could be a more viable avenue to pursue, and it seems that this particular race aligns perfectly with his skillset.
Under the guidance of trainer Fergal O'Brien, the seven-year-old gelding made a promising debut over hurdles, securing a convincing victory at Worcester in October. Although the quality of competitors in that race may not be particularly noteworthy, Kamsinas showcased remarkable speed in the final stretch, pulling away from the runner-up.
He continued to impress with a strong second-place finish in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham in his subsequent outing. It is worth noting that had it not been for losing a shoe during the race, he may have finished even closer. In his next start at Haydock, he came tantalisingly close to achieving Grade 2 success, with the third-place finisher subsequently going on to triumph, thereby enhancing the overall form.
While his most recent performance in a Grade 1 at Aintree fell short of expectations, the transition to handicaps could prove to be a favourable change. His current rating of 132 appears to be well within his capabilities. There is ample room for improvement, and the latest update from his connections confirms that this race has been identified as his primary target.