The opener yesterday produced a 25/1 winner but punters could get their own back in Wednesday’s first race – the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
All but two of the last 30 winners have been in the first six in the betting so we can probably concentrate on the head of the market. Bacardys looks the pick of the Irish challenge but his defeat of Bunk Off Early in the Deloitte at Leopardstown last month was let down by the performance of the runner-up in yesterday’s Supreme Novices’. Stablemate Bon Papa may have been unbeaten but for falling at Cork in January but will need another step forward to land a prize like this.
NEON WOLF steps up in distance but the same can be said of most of his likely market rivals. Harry Fry’s six-year-old has won over 2m2f and was mightily impressive in a Grade 2 at Haydock on his latest start. He was successful over 3m in a point-to-point a year ago so stamina is not going to be an issue and he looks worth a hefty wager at the 2/1 available with BetVictor.
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TOMBSTONE ran well at last year’s Festival and Gordon Elliott’s charge is a very strong fancy for the Coral Cup.
The seven-year-old looks very well handicapped having reversed earlier running with former champion hurdler Jezki in a Grade 3 at Gowran last month. Not many would be good enough to win a tough race like this off a mark of 149 but the Gigginstown gelding could be an exception, though connections wouldn’t want the ground to get any quicker – he is an 11/2 chance with the sponsors and BetVictor.
DOUVAN is only a best 2/7 to extend his winning run in Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase but this is a race to watch rather than gamble on and we’ll get much bigger odds on SAUSALITO SUNRISE in the Glenfarclas Chase.
Not every staying chaser takes to the cross-country fences at Cheltenham, or adapts to its sharp turns, and the nine-year-old lacks the experience of many of his rivals in that respect. But I reckon he would have been favourite were this race being run on a more conventional course and he has won around Cheltenham in the past. Philip Hobbs trained Balthazar King to win the race twice and Richard Johnson rides. I’d be amazed if he hadn’t been extensively schooled over obstacles similar in type and could prove too strong for the lies of Usuel Smurfer and the JP McManus legions if in contention on the final circuit – at BetVictor‘s 16/1, it’s certainly worth the risk.
Glenfarclas Chase Latest Odds
Cantlow (11/4), Cause Of Causes (7/2), Auvergnat (15/2), Quantitativeeasing and Any Currency (14/1), Bless The Wings and Sausalito Sunrise (16/1), Alelchi Inois and Usuel Smurfer (18/1), First Lieutenant (20/1), Colour Squadron (25/1), Kingswell Theatre, Third Intention and Ballyboker Bridge (33/1), Valadom (40/1), Amazing Comedy (66/1)
