Kasbah Bliss, winner of last year’s Group 3 Prix Gladiateur and unplaced favourite in the 2009 World Hurdle, is making his reappearance at Deauville tomorrow in a Group 2 contest over 1m4f.

François Doumen is better known over the Channel for his jumpers, but he has already sent out two winners at this month’s Deauville festival. On Verra and Green Rock completed a double ten days ago on the sand course, but tomorrow’s Lucien Barriere Grand Prix De Deauville will be run on Kasbah Bliss’ preferred going – good.

The seven year old is a 13/2 shot for next year’s World Hurdle, but his previous runs have suggested that the undulations of Cheltenham aren’t to his liking. He proved at Longchamp last year that he was also a top class horse on the flat.

He won’t be fully tuned up for tomorrow’s race, so 10/1 is probably a fair price. 

Andre Fabre saddles the 6/4 favourite, Ideal World, who is by Kingmambo. He took the spoils in a listed contest over course and distance earlier this month and should hold off the 5/2 chance Pouvoir Absolu on that form.

Christophe Soumillon has just picked up a ban, and is having a wretched week, so we probably shouldn’t back Wing Express.

Mark Johnston‘s raider, Jukebox Jury, looks of interest at the 3/1 mark. He receives a handy 5kg allowance from the others. The trainer’s last winner in France came in the shape of Laa Rayb, exactly one year ago.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes was a strangely-run affair, but Jukebox Jury ran out a decent winner at Haydock earlier this month. A repeat of that performance will surely see him involved in the finish.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing international horse racing odds:

Deauville Betting

2009 World Hurdle Betting

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting

Arc De Triomphe Betting

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is my favourite race of the festival – a stamina test over 3m. Inglis Drever has been retired, and many punters are expecting last year’s runner-up Kasbah Bliss to triumph this year.

Even with rain forecast, Kasbah Bliss is an 11/10 chance. Francois Doumen reports him to be in good health following a stroming win in the Blue Square Hurdle at Haydock, and thinks that he will be good enough to win on soft ground.

Matt Chapman (At The Races) isn’t alone in thinking that Kasbah is a certainty. Jockey Christophe Pieux (pictured) will probably wait in the field before charging home late, so I think the odds will be bigger in-running.

Some may be concerned that he hasn’t won in 2 attempts, but he has progressed well over the flat last year. As a 7 year old he should take all the beating.

The current price is unappealing, but the in-running price will almost certainly be bigger because 4/1 Punchestowns travels very strongly.

He has won 2 from 3 starts, and had to give weight away to the talented Big Buck’s in the Cleeve Hurdle. Nicky Henderson will have him tuned up for the Festival, and he impressed in a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Sunday.

Paul Nicholls was going to be restricted to 25/1 Mobaasher, but 6/1 Big Buck’s has emerged as a popular bet. I won’t be having any more antepost bets in this race, but Big Buck’s would be a terrific each way bet if the ground is soft on Thursday. He stayed on well up the hill in the Cleeve, but had jumping problems over fences.

12/1 Fair Along has improved hugely now back to hurdles, and has a great place chance. He always runs well at Cheltenham, which is more than can be said about others.

25/1 Blazing Bailey has been placed in 2 World Hudles, and will go chasing next season.

33/1 Mighty Man will be ridden by Sam Thomas, and has been placed in 2 World Hurdles. The 9 year old was last seen in April 2007.

40/1 Lough Derg will probably go for the Coral Cup, but would still attract money in this race.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing odds for the Cheltenham Festival.

Champion Hurdle Betting

Champion Chase Betting

World Hurdle Betting

Gold Cup Betting