There are 24 entered for the St James’s Palace Foxhunter at Cheltenham on Friday. This is a 3m 2f trip that they take on at class 2. It’s always an entertaining race, even though it sits in the spot right after the Gold Cup.
Last year’s winner was Hazel Hill for trainer Philip Rowley and there is a title defence on the line as he makes a reappearance.
Cheltenham Friday 16:10 Race Odds
Minella Rocco 9/2
Billaway 5/1
Hazel Hill 6/1
Staker Wallace 7/1
Shantou Flyer 9/1
Caid Du Berlais 12/1
Top Wood 18/1
Alcala 18/1
Don Poli 20/1
Law Od Gold 28/1
It Came To Pass 33/1
Dylrow 33/1
Rewritetherules 33/1
40/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 14:03 GMT on Thursday, 12th March 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at William Hill
Table of Contents
Hazel Hill
After victory twelve months ago in the Foxhunter, Hazel Hill is back. He at the very least looks competitive and sharp enough to pull out a place finish back over the trip.
He came out in January and won a point to point to get sharpened up. What makes this renewal so fascinating is that Hazel Hill was recently toppled by Minella Rocco at Wetherby in a hunter chase.
That was at the start of February, snapping Hazel Hill’s unbeaten career. Still a proven distance performer at 6/1* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 14:03 GMT on Thursday, 12th March 2020)
Minella Rocco
Was the win that Minella Rocco took at Wetherby in early February a one-off? It was a shock to be fair as he claimed a one and a half-length win against the 1/4 favourite Hazel Hill. That, of course, gives him big claims here and has won at Cheltenham before.
It has been back to back wins for him in 2020 and looks to be refreshed and renewed. He had pulled up in three of his four previous races, taking an eighth in the other in that sequence. Has trainer Jonjo O’Neill got him right for this contest as the 9/2 favourite* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 14:03 GMT on Thursday, 12th March 2020)?
Key Facts – Foxhunters Betting Tip
- Just 5 of the last 30 winners have been above 10 years old
- All but one of the last dozen winners had previously won at 3 miles
- 11 of the last 14 Foxhunter winners have had an OR of at least 125
- Irish trainers have struck in 8 of the last 12 renewals
- 9 of the last 11 winners had won at least twice under rules
Billaway
Billaway came good at Naas on a 3m trip in January for Willie Mullins. He was building very nicely towards that and won’t mind the trip. In that Naas run, Billaway beat Staker Wallace. Has slowly progressed back up to the 3m trip after some sharpeners at lesser distances.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him battling at the end for a spot among the money and is a 5/1 second-favourite * (betting odds taken from William Hill at 14:03 GMT on Thursday, 12th March 2020)
Law Of Gold
Law Of Gold struck a win at Stratford over 3m 3f in a novices’ hunter chase in May. He was out for his seasonal renewal last month at Horseheath on a 3m effort and won the point to point impressively.
He may not have the experience of some of those he is going up against, but he looks a really game contender and fascinating enough to take each way at 28/1* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 14:03 GMT on Thursday, 12th March 2020).
Staker Wallace
Beaten by Billaway at Naas in late January at 10/1, Staker Wallace will be looking to turn the tables on at least him. He perhaps challenged just a little bit early in that one and stayed on one pace at the end. That was his first run in 3 years, however, so it was a fantastic effort all the same.
Was odds-on favourite at Nenagh in a point to point to get into shape for this one last month and won. He’s at 7/1 odds for the win* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 14:03 GMT on Thursday, 12th March 2020).
Worthy Mentions
Caid Du Berlais pulled up in last year’s Foxhunter. That was after a 5th in the previous renewal. He has looked fairly sharp coming into this and sharpened with a 3m point to point win in January. Every chance of pulling himself into contention and easily handles the trip.
Top Wood claimed a second-place finish two years ago at the Foxhunter. Last year he was third, a long way back of second-placed Hazel Hill. He claimed a win at Aintree in a chase after that and the 13-year-old has plenty of experience. Could enjoy himself back in hunter company but would need to defy a big age-trend against him in the Foxhunters for the win.
Kalabaloo is a hunter chase winner against her own sex, which was at Cheltenham last summer. In May last year, she was duelling Law Of Gold and Stratford and procured a superb run for a second-place behind him. Has won a couple of point to points so far this season.
Predictions & Tips
A fascinating race and there are some interesting stories around with the likes of Top Wood and Caid Du Berlais in the picture. It’s a congested field that’s for sure.
Starting at the top, Minella Rocco or Hazel Hill? Easily the latter because that was just a blip, an off day perhaps that Hazel Hill suffered in that loss at Minella Rocco on his last trip.
He is easily good enough to respond and put that behind him.
We would have to draw some attention onto the long priced Law Of Gold and Kalabaloo looks to be shaping well with a top jockey to make an impact. It’s wide open for the places behind Hazel Hill.
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