Sponsors Betfair have installed the Paul Nicholls trained Irving as their 10-1 favourite for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 8.
Unbeaten in his three starts in Great Britain, the six-year-old looked a smart prospect when running out a six length winner of a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Ascot last month.
Recent Cheltenham handicap hurdle winner Quick Jack is next best in the market at 12-1.
Trained by Tony Martin, the son of Footstepsinthesand has been mixing it between the flat and over hurdles recently, staying on well in the closing stages to win a competitive handicap at Cheltenham last time out.
The David Pipe trained Dell Arca heads a host of challengers at 14-1.
The Willie Mullins trained pair Marito and Upazo are also both 14-1 chances.
Marito was a winner over fences most recently but finished within a length and a quarter of Hurricane Fly in the Morgiana Hurdle on his last try over hurdles.
Other interesting contenders include Far West (16-1), Flaxen Flare (16-1) and Cheltenian (16-1).
Betfair Spokesman Barry Orr commented today: ” Irving has looked a really smart prospect since joining Paul Nicholls and at this stage rightly heads the market.
“There are no shortage of decent horses in the field, including the likes of Marito and Quick Jack who may look overpriced on the day”.
Betfair Hurdle – Betfair Sportsbook – 10-1 Irving, 12-1 Quick Jack, 14-1 Dell Arca, Marito, The Skyfarmer, Un Temps Pour Tout, Upazo, Willows Saviour, 16-1 Cheltenian, Far West, Flaxen Flare, Garde La Victoire, Melodic Rendezvous, Pitt Zig, Smashing, Stand To Reason, Swing Bowler, Vendor, 20-1 bar.
*Each Way 1/4 Odds first 4 places