Cheltenham Wednesday 13.30: William Hill offer 5/4 racing odds on Envoi Allen – 11th March 2020

Envoi Allen hard to oppose for Ballymore success on Wednesday

Cheltenham Festival

Kicking off the day’s action on Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival is the Ballymore Novices Hurdle (formerly the Neptune). Gordon Elliot has sent Envoi Allen to the race to try and follow up on his Champion Bumper success from last year.

There are 12 entered for the novices contest which is a Grade 1 over 2m 5f.

Cheltenham Wednesday 13.30

Envoi Allen 5/4
Sporting John 3/1
The Big Getaway 13/2
The Big Breakaway 6/1
Longhouse Poet 12/1
Easywork 22/1
Son of Camas 50/1
Mossy Fen 50/1
Shan Blue 50/1
Decor Irlandais 66/1
Shakem Uparry 66/1
Getaway Fred 100/1
* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 00:45 on Tuesday, 10th March 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at William Hill

Envoi Allen

The impressive 2019 Champion Bumper champion Envoi Allen heads up the Cheltenham 2020 betting market for the Ballymore. He is likely to lead the way and he has won all three of his outings over the timber. Two of those three were at Grade 1 as well.

The one question mark will be the distance. Gorden Elliot’s star has not gone at this distance before. His last run was just a furlong shy though, a victory at 2m 4f at Naas in early January.

He has such an impressive unbeaten record in his career and a win here is likely to propel him on to much bigger Cheltenham Festival successes in the future.

For now, Envoi Allen is at 5/4 odds to win the 2020 Ballymore* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 00:45 on Tuesday, 10th March 2020).

Envoi Allen
5/4

Bet365

Sporting John

Philip Hobbs has Sporting John as a leading contender in the Ballymore on Wednesday. He produced a win on his hurdles debut in November last year after having a slight wobble on the way around.

He has since made it three wins from three over the timber, the most recent of which was in the middle of February. He has really looked untroubled so far and looks as if he does have the extra distance in him to lay down a challenge in this one.

Sporting John heads into Wednesday’s opening race at the Cheltenham Festival as the 3/1 second favourite* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 00:45 on Tuesday, 10th March 2020).

 

Key Facts – Ballymore Novices Hurdle 2020 Betting Tip

  • Five of the last six winners have been trained in Ireland
  • All but one of the last 34 winners were 1st or 2nd on their last start
  • The last six winners have been 5 or 6 year olds
  • 8 of the last 14 winners had won at least twice over hurdles
  • 30 of the last 32 winners were in the top-six of race betting

 

The Big Getaway

Whenever Willie Mullins throws an entry into a Cheltenham race, you, of course, take notice. Six-year-old The Big Getaway claimed a win at Naas on his last run, a maiden hurdle. That was just a total breeze for him and he had a clear run out front from 4 out.

He didn’t impress on his hurdles debut at the end of December 2019 however, really coming up short at Leopardstown which was at a furlong longer than his win at Naas.

But still, the impressive show at Naas last time out from the same mark, raises his stock for the Ballymore challenge at 13/2* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 00:45 on Tuesday, 10th March 2020).

The Big Breakaway

Colin Tizzard’s hopes for the Ballymore sit on the shoulders of the keen The Big Breakaway. The five year old has had two goes over the hurdles so far in his career and has handled both trips with relative ease.

His debut happened at Chepstow in November and then he followed it up at Newbury in December. The Newbury win was at 2m 4f and he was well clear before having to get over the final jump.

There looks to be plenty of improvement to come from him as well, but he is going to face the quality of opposition, the likes of which he hasn’t done so before.

But still, there is plenty of interest piqued here at 6/1* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 00:45 on Tuesday, 10th March 2020).

Worthy mentions

Decor Irlandais has won three of his last six runs and in that sequence has been out of the places only once. He hasn’t been in action since a second-place at Warwick in early November last year at Grade 2 behind Mossy Fen.

Gordon Elliot sends Easywork into action as well with Rachael Blackmore taking the ride. He banked back to back wins in his opening hurdle efforts, one of them up at the 2m 4f distance at Limerick. He was second to Asterion Forlonge at Grade 1 last month at Leopardstown.

Nicky Henderson also has Son Of Camas entered. He claimed a win on his hurdle debut at Newbury in November. He was then up against Fidderlontheroof at Sandown earlier this year and finished third in that fixture. He has gone for wind surgery since then and combined with his presence in a top yard, could be a decent outsider consideration.

Predictions & Tips

We can’t look past Envoi Allen. He fits the trends for the Ballymore and given how well he won the Champion Bumper last year, which was a field that was well above average quality, then he should take it.

He’s a quality horse and it’s tough to oppose. The Big Getaway and The Big Breakaway both look as if there is enough to improve to challenge for a place finish.

But if the race goes as expected, Sporting John looks the one most likely to track Envoi Allen home in second place.

William Hill Cheltenham 2020 Money Back Special

Get up to £10 in cash back if your horse finishes 2nd in any Cheltenham Festival 2020 race.

The Money Back 2nd offer will be paid out in cash to William Hill customers, up to a maximum of £10 per customer, per Cheltenham Festival race.

The cash amount that will be returned through the Cheltenham 2020 betting offer, is calculated by the total stake minus total returns, up to a maximum value of £10 per race

18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. See bookmaker for full T&Cs

Key Terms & Conditions

Only the first bet placed on the race will qualify (i.e. the bet struck with the lowest bet receipt number). Your selection must be settled at odds of 3/1 or greater (either the price taken, or SP if Best Odds Guaranteed is applied). A minimum of 4 horses must run in the race. Applies to bets placed on any race winner market only. Other markets (e.g. “To Win Any Race At Cheltenham”, “Betting Without”, “Place Only” markets) will not qualify. Available on Singles. Multiple bets will not count.

For each way bets, only the win part will count. Bets must be struck using funds from your balance, and not using a free bet (in full or in part). If you cash in your bet you will not qualify to receive money back on that race. Bets placed on Tote markets, or on the Unnamed 1st Favourite and Unnamed 2nd Favourite will not qualify for this offer.

Money Back 2nd will be paid as a cash adjustment, up to a maximum of £10 per customer, per Cheltenham Festival race. The cash amount is calculated by the total stake minus total returns, up to a maximum value of £10 per race:
e.g. 1 – Place a £10 win bet on the horse at 5/1 that finishes 2nd. Customer will receive a £10 cash adjustment;
e.g. 2 – Place a £5 each way bet on a horse at 3/1 (1/4 odds) that finishes 2nd. You will receive a cash adjustment of £1.25 (£10 stake and £8.75 returns = £1.25 cash adjustment);
e.g. 3 – Place a £5 each way bet on a horse at 10/1 (1/5 odds) that finishes 2nd. You will not receive any money back as the bet has won £5 (£10 stake and £15 returns).