Betfair Reveal New World Favourite

As the rains continue to fall on the sacred Cheltenham turf, 2005 hero Inglis Drever has usurped Black Jack Ketchum at the head of Betfair's exchange market for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Having been considered the banker of the meeting for so many, doubt has been thrown on the participation of the latter as prospects of a soft-ground Festival continue to strengthen due to the inclement weather.

Inglis Drever now trades at around the 4-1 mark on the exchange, with Black Jack Ketchum drifting to around 9-2.

'Black Jack Ketchum has been backed at the lowest price of any horse for the Festival on Betfair, with punters taking 1.85 (5-6) about him winning the World Hurdle before his defeat last time,' explained Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin.

'It is a remarkable turnaround to now see him as not even favourite for the race.

'But of course, the current Betfair price factors in the very real chance that he won't even line up for the race given testing conditions.'

(C) PA Sport