By Tony Calvin - 11 March 2025
The Cheltenham rain gauge says they got 3.2mm yesterday (Monday), on top of unspecified watering since last Thursday (no details on public BHA site, though there were hazy 5-10mm details given on Luck On Sunday – not sure they were daily amounts or in total).
The gauge often differs from course rain updates though, so perhaps that will be clarified later.
The course report they had 3.5mm of rain (6.24am Tuesday).
That 3.5mm has done a lot, as the going stick reading is now 5.5 from 6.1 (as at 10am Tuesday)
Nothing much has changed in the 1.20pm, with Workahead shortening into [13/2] fixed odds but pretty much trading the same price on the exchange as he was yesterday (around 9.0). The favourite is currently top at [21/20] with AKBets.
The 2pm is a static market, too.
No significant moves in the 2.40pm either.
Lossiemouth is top at [3/4], with your host, so nothing has changed there really.
The same applies to the Champion Hurdle, where Constitution Hill is best at [4/6] with AKBets.
Stencil is perhaps the biggest mover from yesterday, in the 4.40pm. Available at [11/2] and 5s yesterday, he is now best at [7/2].
Nothing much doing in the last at 5.20pm, either.
Very quiet, odds-wise.
———-
Well, it is here at last, and we are about to find out what trainers have peaked their horses to perfection for the biggest National Hunt stage of all.
It struck me when doing the trainerform assessments below that none of the big guns are coming here on the crest of a wave (I wrote that early on Sunday, and then Willie duly had four winners at Naas, including a 20s poke), but it is doubtful that it is too much of a concern.
This is the week that matters most, and time and again we have seen trainers like Henry De Bromhead and Gavin Cromwell deliver.
In spades.
Let’s crack on then, and see how the betting cards have played out.
Now, I love a headgear stat and the news that the favourite Kopek Des Bordes wears a first-time hood (as does stablemate Karniquet) will split opinion.
Those in the red corner will say it is a positive as he is clearly a buzzy sort who played up a bit at the DRF (not that stopped him winning by 13 lengths from fellow hoodie Karniquet), so that move could throw up an even more accomplished model if he is more tractable pre-race and in the run.
Those in the blue corner will say how can an unknown be a good sign for an even-money favourite.
Those standing in the middle (probably also trainerform deniers) will not give one jot either way.
I’d probably be in the blue camp , as a glance at the overall record of horses wearing first-time headgear, and hoods in particular, must make you think twice.
Thanks to Proform, who report that hurdlers wearing a hood initially are 0-34 at the Festival (actually it was Andrew Mount who tweeted it) since 2015 (it looks like Jezki was the last winner when taking the Champion Hurdle in 2014).
And I imagine a lot of those were novices for whom the occasion simply got to them.
But statistics can be skewed either way, and Willie Mullins’ record in this area is not too shabby, especially when the market still speaks for them,
For example, his Gaelic Warrior won the Arkle in a first-time hood last year and hurdlers Saint Sam (second in a Fred Winter), Gala Marceau (second in a Triumph Hurdle) and Mystical Power (second in a Supreme) didn’t fare too badly, did they?
On the theme of Mullins, just how good could some of his second, third, fourth, fifth and six strings be?
The likes of Irancy, Karbau and Funiculi Funicala (sounds like he should be playing for Samoa) could be the archetypal anything, and Moscow Flyer winner Salvator Mundi (who wore a hood in the Triumph last season) isn’t too shoddy either.
I’ve had Workahead and William Munny (another wearing a first-time hood – indeed it looks like it is the first time his trainer Barry Connell has used one) down as each-way possibles for this, – and I had small each way bets on them last week – but I now think it is a win-only race outright, given the unknowns and the surprise depth to the race, as well as the potential towering presence of the jolly.
I’d lean towards Workahead of the pair, and not least because he beat William Munny pointless by 7 lengths at Leopardstown on Boxing Day (though it perhaps would be unwise to take that at face value as the runner-up looked an improved model in a good time at Punchestown subsequently).
Workahead just looked a powerhouse there and you have to take De Bromhead at his word that he comes here directly, as part of a planned prep, and not because of a setback (and the stable form in January and February was not great, so that may have been a factor, too).
However, Workahead is only a fair price at 8s now, in two places, including with AKBets (the 9s went yesterday and he was 11s a few days ago) and the final field looks deeper and trickier than I was expecting. And I haven’t even mentioned last year’s bumper runner-up and Grade 1 hurdles winner Romeo Coolio (and Tripoli Flyer is no no-hoper. even if he is trained in the UK).
It’s a great race, run in honour of Michael O’Sullivan, but I’ll be hoping I can get 10s about Workahead win-only and then I’ll get involved.
That looks pie in the sky as at 2pm on Monday, as he is now a best-priced [13/2].
He was [9/2] without the favourite, and that would have perhaps appealed more each-way at this stage.
But that was cut to [18/5] just before this went live.
Boo. Hoo.
Would Majborough win the Arkle seven times out of 11?
I’d be inclined to say he would, so his odds of [4/7] are therefore a fair assessment of his chances, so I probably wouldn’t be in a mad rush to try to get him beaten here.
I have gone off L’Eau du Sud of late and would prefer Jango Baie to him at the top of the market, but I’d side with Touch Me Not at the generally available 16s if asked for a bet in the race.
Correction, at the available [11/2] and 5s without the favourite.
He won in a good time in a Grade 2 at Punchestown in November and then was beaten 3 ¾ lengths by L’Eau du Sud in the Henry VIII at Sandown, but that only tells half the story as he was going well in front when belting one and he did well to recover and stay competitive.
It must have taken something out of him though, so there may not have been much between them without that mistake, and then he went on to chase home Majborough at the DRF, finishing nearly four lengths clear of the 151-rated Firefox.
I thought they may have gone for the Grand Annual with him off 151, but their decision to roll the big dice could be rewarded with a bold run here, though he doesn’t have that often-crucial Cheltenham experience, it has to be said.
The favourite could be a step too far, but he may well chin the rest.
The [11/2] is available in two places, but any [9/2] or bigger looks okay, too.
In fact, there is now some [13/2] out there. See Oddschecker.
A maximum field of 24 for the Ultima – I was decs-tracking and I think Myretown was the last one in, but don’t hold me to that – and it is fiercely competitive.
No. Shit. Sherlock.
No surprise there obviously then, and I can fully see the case for the market leaders The Changing Man, Broadway Boy and Katate Dori, with perhaps Broadway Boy is playing the role of Mr Solid for each-way backers.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ chaser is available at [15/2], five places (four firms), or 7s, six places. The latter is the play if you can access clearly, but either is fine.
In fact, so is the [13/2], seven places, in one spot.
There is now actually some [15/2], six places, out there as at 2pm on Monday. See Oddschecker.
He has to bounce back from a poor run here last time on New Year’s Day when he went off the [5/6] favourite, but it sounds like there were genuine excuses for that.
“He trach-washed very unsatisfactory after and he has slight mucus in his lungs which wasn’t ideal and afterwards we found he was slightly lame and that is probably why he didn’t jump as well as he can,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father Nigel.
“He’s had a bit of treatment on his knees and it’s nice to have two valid excuses as he was a completely different horse to the one we’ve seen before.
“We’re very confident we can get him back to his best for either the Ultima or Haydock’s Grand National Trial.”
Well, they have got him here and, that last run aside, his course form figures read an impressive 12113, and he also finished an excellent second in the Coral Gold Cup in November, off just a 2lb lower mark than this, with dual subsequent scorer Victtorino 3 ½ lengths away in third.
And the fifth, Henry’s Friend, also in here, won his next start by 6 lengths. Victorrino and Henry’s Friend are now 6lb higher.
Those ailments could resurface, I guess, but I’ll be surprised if more than four or five beat him home (depending on your each way bet), and he has a genuine winning chance here.
I was amazed to see he is just a 7yo, as I thought he had been knocking around for ages.
If you wanted a win-only dart at a bigger price, I see Malina Girl is trading at 20s on the exchanges (hopefully the liquidity will hold up at the Festival) and that looks okay, too.
I have backed her.
She may prefer softer ground (it’ll be interesting to see how it rides after the unspecified watering) and the stable form is poor (though most will expect the Cromwell yard to come alive this week) , but she is a course winner on a fair mark judged on her recent Exeter second and I’ll throw a few quid at her win-only.
I have, in fact.
I can’t get as worked up as some about Lossiemouth coming here instead of the Champion Hurdle, though I was tempted to go down the faux outrage route for the shits and giggles.
Let’s hope connections have a thick skin on Tuesday, as they may need it.
I suspect they won’t need it though – the public love Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins can charm the birds out of the trees, and immediately disarm any would-be media dissenters (if they still exist)– and they haven’t got to their positions in business and this sport without making hard, sometimes unpopular, decisions.
And late calls too, when all the necessary information is to hand.
And this ain’t Willie’s first rodeo.
By the way, Lossiemouth is best at [3/4] – yes, I know – with AKBets as on Tuesday morning.
If you are going to lambast these connections in this instance (which would appear unjustified, given she is actually going for a mares race, and the executive presumably want Grade 1 mares to run in it) then surely you have to go after the likes of JP McManus for running Fact To File in the lesser Ryanair instead of the Gold Cup etc (and we all know that ain’t happening), so let’s chill.
We only found out that Fact To File was going to the Ryanair when we saw the six-day confirmations for the Gold Cup on Saturday, so let’s not have any double standards here about openness and transparency.
If you go after one, go after both maybe.
Anyway, this is a mares race, and she is a mare, so end of story.
The fact that she had a bad fall last time and is not being chanced in the Champion Hurdle is perhaps evidence enough to stop you backing this clear standard-setter (she has 12lb and more in hand of all of her rivals) at [4/6] as she bids to back up her smooth win in this race last season.
Now, having already discussed betting without favourite options above, I should acknowledge that these markets are very reactive to any bets and are lightly-traded, so let’s be realistic.
I can see the supplemented Joyeuse going really well (I had a little on her ante-post, win-only, on the exchange) but maybe Kala Conti at 7s is the better bet for those that want a “without” interest, thought the 16s all-in each-way is fair, too.
Her stamina is not copper-bottomed, as she was put to bed by July Flower late on over 2m4f last time out (see what I did there?), but she is 5lb better off here for four lengths and they may well look to play her later here, having perhaps done too much too early last time.
If I can get some 7s, I’ll play – she is 16s all-in, which is also okay – but only to minimal stakes.
You can make a case for plenty outside of the probably-dominant favourite, after all.
A great race in store, but it’s not really a betting race, is it?
I was going to say that Lossiemouth running in the Mares’ Hurdle has robbed us of the dead-eight and each way 1,2,3 betting, but if she had come here, then Golden Ace would have jumped ship the other way.
I have loved Constitution Hill ever since I was there in the flesh at Sandown for his stunning debut success, and his Supreme win in particular (even more so than his 2023 Champion Hurdle win) is the stuff of legend.
But no way would I be tempted to back him at [4/6] here, as what he has done in two starts this season, after all his troubles, hasn’t convinced me he is the same horse as 2022 and 2023.
I haven’t really got a strong opinion other than “no bet”.
Maybe the aforementioned Golden Ace is overpriced at 14s in two places without CH (the 16s went just before this went live as well), but let’s just sit back, top up the spirits and ice in your G & T at 3.55pm – my glass measures would cost me £30 a pop at Cheltenham, minimum – and enjoy.
I really hope Constitution Hill dances in, though.
But it is in hope, not expectation.
Some people view the Pertemps as a cheats’ charter due to the dubious qualification process, but it is “hold my beer” time when it comes to the ole’ Fred Winter.
Legal issues prevent me from identifying those who should be on the naughty step, but one or two of the more obvious ones haven’t been missed in the market, shall we say.
And I won’t be clapping if one of those wins.
Given Paul Townend’s record in Festival handicaps when riding for his boss (selective but impressive), then I am surprised Sony Bill, coming here via a Grade 1 at the DRF, is as big as 14s. I’ve actually had a nibble on him at 16s.
Sure, a mark of 136 is no gimme but it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he grew a leg, down in class.
I can see the case for Hot Fuss (and plenty of others, in truth) but most roads surely lead to Stencil here, especially as he is available at [5/1] each way, six places, with five firms.
That’s a considerable safety net.
He is also [11/2], five places. And in fact there is now 6s out there, as at 2pm.
The Time Bandits have been raving about the merit of his second to Triumph Hurdle favourite East India Dock here last time, a race in which he was the only one to put it up to the winner (or attempt to), and he finished miles clear of some decent horses, too.
He was weak in the market there, as well.
The better ground here is an unknown (though you’d suspect there may be some soft in it on Day One, given the Secret Squirrel watering can action) but a mark of 135 could seriously underplay his talent.
This column is in danger of being far too conservative on Day One – rather unlike me – but I couldn’t see many at big prices that lured me in, and I am going to carry on the “bleedin’ obvious” theme by sticking up Transmission at [11/2] each way, five places, as my main bet here.
Given that all his runs this season have been here, and Patrick Mullins had a feel of the horse in November – and a very good one too, as he won nicely – this has presumably been a long-term plan.
You would have probably preferred the suspended James Bowen to be on board, but Mullins will do I guess, and his charge looks well handicapped on just a 4lb higher mark for that win.
In fact, I think the handicapper played fair in only raising him 1lb for his second to Haiti Couleurs here (he is is 4lb better off for a 2 3/4 length beating with that one) in December, a race in which subsequent winner Moon D’Orange was back in fourth.
You can also mark up that run, as he came from a mile back that day.
I suppose that is a worry here, in that he doesn’t want to get too detached early doors– though an extra 5f gives him plenty of time to get interested and involved – but they protected his mark by running in the Cleeve Hurdle last time (a move the trainer made with his Ultima winner The Druids Nephew in 2015) and Neil Mulholland has his team in good order.
If Mullins can get him settled in midfield, then it could be game on from 2 out, with a late thrust on the run-in.
Of course, the 3m6f trip is an unknown but on run-style he could really Steve Mellish it.
The five places in this 18-runner race looks good business, too, on ground on which he has excelled.
Oh, and as for this talk of reducing field sizes, tell that to the connections of the 20 horses that were balloted out on Tuesday alone (details below).
And the 27 on Wednesday.
The idea has no merit.
Nada.
Stencil at [5/1] each way, six places, in 4.40pm. Available in five places.
Transmission at [11/2] each way, five places, in 5.20pm. Available in two places.
GOING: Good to soft (3.5mm yesterday)
GOING STICK: 5.5 (10am Tuesday); 6.1 (8am Monday); was 6.1 8.30am Sunday; was 6.1 (10am Saturday), having been 6.4 at 9am on Thursday.
Tuesday morning update: 100mm of rainfall in January and 48mm in February. Dry from 27th Feb to yesterday when 3.5mm of rainfall late afternoon/evening. Dry day forecast with temperatures of 9 degrees.
Weather: 0.2mm Tuesday, 1.2mm Wednesday, 0.9mm Thursday. 0.9mm Friday.
Watering: Selective watering to maintain to commence today (Thursday)
Watering update (Friday 8.37am): “Selective watering to maintain”
Watering update (Saturday 9.44am): “Watering to maintain”
Watering update (Sunday 7.06am): “Watered”
Willie Mullins hood 32-181 (since 2013) – Kopek Des Bordes and Karniquet, 1.20pm
Barry Connell hood 0-0; William Munny, 1.20pm
Gary Brown cheekpieces 1-4 (2021) – Farouk D’Alene, 2.40pm
Willie Mullins cheekpieces 8-48 (2016) – State Man, 4pm & Klarc Kent 5.20pm
Gavin Cromwell cheekpieces 13-88 (2016) – Total Look, 4.40pm
Harry Derham cheekpieces 2-9 (2023)– Turn And Finish, 4.40pm
Joseph O’Brien cheekpieces 19-170 (2016) – Beyond Your Dreams, 4.40pm
Joseph O’Brien blinkers 12-126 (2016) – Out For A Stroll, 4.40pm
Tom Dascombe blinkers 4-33 (2009) – Hot Fuss, 4.40pm
Joe Tizzard blinkers 2-14 (2022) – Rock My Way, 5.20pm
T Ellis, cheekpieces 0-1 (2024) – Late Night Rumble, 5.20pm
Blinkers 2-88 (since 2009)
Cheekpieces 1-75 (2017)
Hood 5-45 (2013) – though Proform report first-time hoods in hurdles at the Festival are 0 from 34 since 2015 (chasers are 2 from 6)
Visor 2-30 (2013)
4.40pm: March D’Aligre, Action Plain, Torrent, Last Kingdom, Butter Fingers, Galactic Charm, Chortal, Lakota Blue, Space Warrior, Continuance, Star Of Guiting. Ocean Conquest, Out For A Stroll and Ephesus
5.20pm: Eyed, Jasmin De Cotte, One More Stroke, Zertakt, Aworkinprogress and Latenightrumble
3.20pm: Joyeuse
1.20pm (Mullins holds key here): Funiculi Funicula, Irancy, Karbau, Karniquet (prom), Kopek Des Bordes (prom), Romeo Coolio (prom), Salvator Mundi?, Sky Lord (prom), Tutti Quanti, Workahead
2pm (this could be interesting pace-wise): Majborough, L’Eau du Sud? Jango Baie (prom), Touch Me Not, Only By Night (prom)
2.40pm: Trelawne, Farouk d’Alene (prom), Broadway Boy, Stay Away Fay?, Search For Glory (prom), Henry’s Friend, The Changing Man?, Happygolucky (prom), King Turgeon, Grandeur d’Ame (prom), Whistle Stop Tour (prom), Frero Banbou, Myretown, Guard Your Dreams (prom), Straw Fan Jack (prom)
3.20pm (no guaranteed pace?): Casa No Mento?, Lossiemouth?, Jade De Grugy?
4pm: King of Kingsfield, Burdett Road, Brighterdaysahead (prom), Constitution Hill (prom), State Man (prom)
4.40pm: Sony Bill, Stencil, Slurricane (prom), Robbies Rock (prom), Teriferma (prom), Turn And Finish, Solar Drive, Mister Cessna (prom), Beyond Your Dreams (prom), Moutarde, Static (prom), Hot Fuss, Lavender Hill Mob (prom), Out For A Stroll (reserve), Ephesus (reserve)
5.20pm: Haiti Couleurs (prom), Gericault Roque (prom), Kyntara, Caesar Rock, Jupiter Allen?
Excellent: Jamie Snowden (33-1 and 5-2 winners on Saturday), Sam Thomas, Harry Derham, Tom Dascombe (one runner, one winner), Olly Murphy (another big winner on Saturday, and a winner on Monday)
Good: Gary Brown (small sample, but two from four), Ben Pauling, Nicky Richards (winner on Saturday and Sunday), Lucinda Russell (winner on Saturday), Rebecca Curtis (small sample), Jeremy Scott, James Owen (1-2 winner on Flat on Monday), George and Zetterholm, Gary and Josh Moore (three winners on Monday), Neil Mulholland (winner on Saturday, and 8-1 winner on Monday), Jane Williams (small sample), Willie Mullins (four winners on Sunday)
Fair: Henry De Bromhead (winner on Saturday), Gordon Elliott (winner on Saturday), Fergal O’Brien, Paul Nicholls (winner on Monday), Nicky Henderson (arguably far more moderate), Joseph O’Brien, Dan Skelton (moderate for him, though a winner on Saturday), Bailey and Nicholls, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Joe Tizzard (winner on Saturday), Mel Rowley, David Pipe, Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, Ross O’Sullivan (winner on Sunday), Warren Greatrex, Jack Jones, Paul Flynn, Anthony Charlton (40-1 winner on Sunday), Martin Keighley (8-1 winner on Monday), Nick Gifford (9-2 winner on Sunday), Paul Nolan, Alan King (winner on Saturday and a 28-1 second, and an evens winner on Monday)
Moderate: Gavin Cromwell, Venetia Williams, Donald McCain (double on Sunday, so maybe on the march again), Denis Gerard Hogan, Nigel Hawke (33-1 second, though), Thomas Mullins, John McConnell, Hughie Morrison
Don’t know: Barry Connell, Paul John Gilligan, Sheila Lewis, Jessie Harrington, William Durkan, Andrew Kinirons, Conor David Maxwell, Gerard O’Leary, Mouse Morris, T Ellis
Here is a quick update now the final fields are known.
Hopefully, these are accurate unless some horses came in at the last second.
No surprises in the Supreme, with 12 runners. Kopek Des Bordes runs in a first-time hood. Willie runs six.
We have five in the Arkle, with Majborough joined by L’Eau du Sud, Jango Baie, Touch Me Not and, perhaps surprisingly, Only By Night.
No surprises that I could see in the Ultima, where we have a full field of 24, though the weights will go up 5lb as Conflated doesn’t go.
Lossiemouth goes in the Mares’ Hurdle. There are 11 in here.
Seven go in the Champion Hurdle, with Constitution Hill, Brighterdaysahead, State Man, Golden Ace, Burdett Road, Winter Fog and King of Kingsfield in the race.
State Man runs in cheekpieces.
At first glance, I couldn’t see much of note in the Fred Winter (though top weight Willy De Houelle wasn’t confirmed) or NH handicap chase, with full fields.
Twenty horses in total were balloted out in total, as below (four of the 20 are reserves, though).
Do you want to reduce maximum field sizes?
I am going to be updating each day of the Festival, daily, from the five-day stage to the day itself (if that makes sense….)
I will be adding any significant betting news etc (and weather updates, obviously), if any materialise, on a rolling daily basis.
So check in each day between now and Tuesday here, perhaps.
Every day will get its own fresh column (four in total, obviously), so Day Two on Wednesday will appear in a fresh column early on Thursday afternoon.
NB: Click on the race title for each race and it will take you through to the AKBets’ market.
Cheltenham announced at 12.55pm on Thursday that “Selective watering to maintain to commence today (Thursday)”.
No details/amounts given.
Friday’s update at 8.37am simply says “selective watering to maintain”.
Saturday’s update at 9.44am was “watering to maintain”.
The going stick is now 6.1 (10am Saturday), having been 6.4 at 9am on Thursday.
It remained at 6.1 as at 8.30am on Sunday, when the watering update a 7,06am read “Watered”.
Do we think that is good enough?
No, of course it isn’t.
It seems no-one is bothered by the lack of basic information. I’ve read a couple of articles, where the clerk of the course is interviewed, and no-one appears to have asked him how much he is putting on.
Which would obviously be most people’s first question.
Perhaps ITV will get an answer on The Opening Show on Saturday morning.
If it is necessary, then so be it (and it would appear it is), but be up front about it.
This is how Sandown have kept punters abreast of their watering this week for their Imperial Cup fixture on Saturday.
“Watering: Selective watering began on Tuesday to maintain Good ground. Repeated Wednesday – 7mm each application. Covers most of the Chase Course Back Straight, and about 2 furlongs of the Hurdle Course Back Straight. Repeated Thursday and scaled down to 4mm Friday. Pond Fence to 2nd last 5mm Friday.”
Cheltenham, under pressure in some areas, should take the small wins when they can – and a detailed and open watering policy, on the publicly-available BHA site, is one of those.
———————————–
We have gone from 25 to 17 at the five-day stage, with no major no-shows. Willie Mullins has nine of the 17.
Kopek Des Bordes is clear best industry-price at [17/20] with AKBets (who are not NRNB). In fact, they are top price about every horse in the race.
The New Lion was as short as [9/2] in the NRNB no-bet market but his absence was expected.
Horses not confirmed on Wednesday: Bleu De Vassy, Celtic Dino, Good And Clever, Graham, Jacovec Cavern ,James’s Gate, Kawaboomga, Kel Histoire, Miami Magic, Potters Charm, Sea Of Sands, Sixmilebridge, Starcrossed Lover, The Enabler, The New Lion, You Oughta Know , De Temps En Temps, Dunkerque, No Questions Asked, Roysse (last four already scratched)
We have gone from 14 to nine here.
Everyone is betting 1/4 1,2, so no more each-way filth.
No surprises, with Ballyburn being left in the race.
Majborough is best industry-price at [4/7] with AKBets, the only firm going that price.
Horses not confirmed: Caldwell Potter, Fascile Mode, Gidleigh Park, San Salvador, Springwell Bay , Jeannot Lapin (latter scratched on Tuesday)
47 to 31 here.
No Johnnywho, which the exchange market was expecting.
The Changing Man heads the betting at 6s right across the board, no dissenters. Which seems somewhat remarkable.
Horses not confirmed: Sa Fureur, Gold Tweet, Le Patron, Ginny’s Destiny, Lowry’s Bar, Hyland, Quick Wave, Fantastic Lady,, Favori De Champdou, La Renommee ,Tahmuras , Johnnywho ,Will Do Herakles Westwood, Shakem Up’Arry, Mint Boy, Copperhead (last three had already been scratched)
23 to 15 here. Nine came out, but Joyeuse has been supplemented. She trades at between 5s and 7s (the latter in only one spot), depending on where you shop/shoplift.
Lossiemouth has been left in the race (unlike Brighterdaysahead), and trades as short as [1/2] NRNB, and she was initially 3/1 all-in with AKBets.
But that 3s was cut into evens as the Cheltenham Preview circuit on Wednesday night did its’ stuff.
It looks like we are all on 10am Sunday watch there now.
Horses not confirmed: All The Glory, Brighterdaysahead, Feet Of A Dancer, Got Glory, Hollygrove Cha Cha, Lantry Lady, Lot Of Joy, Pinot Rouge, West Balboa
Supplemented: Joyeuse
9 to 8 here (Brentford Hope was scratched on Tuesday), with Senecia the only no-show.
Constitution Hill is now as short as [4/7] now following the move for Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle (not that we would be talking big money there, and I imagine it was evasive action, rather than cash, that prompted the cut).
AKBets are [7/10]. now the best price around.
Horses not confirmed: Senecia, Brentford Hope (scratched on Tuesday)
46 to 38 here with Naturally Nimble (as short as 8s) the significant absentee.
Stencil is best at [6/1], and Total Look is the same price.
Horses not confirmed: Naturally Nimble, Mambonumberfive (already scratched), Opec ,Bust A Move, Belfrina ,Drusilla, Kaptain Bay, Hosaamm (already scratched), Viyanni (already scratched)
43 to 29 here. No Johnnywho or The Changing Man, who were trading between 8s and 12s in the NRNB markets.
Now Is The Hour and Haiti Couleurs were joint-favourites at 4s, but the former is now available at [9/2].
Johnnywho has been cut/backed for the Kim Muir on Thursday as a result, with Derek O’Connor being booked (C/O Nick Luck).
The 7s and 8s did not last (the 7s went at 2.27pm on Wednesday) , and the 6s, 5s and [9/2] followed suit.
He is best at 4s now, including with AKBets, and as short as 3s in a place.
Horses not confirmed: The Changing Man, Johnnywho ,Whistle Stop Tour ,Destroytheevidence ,Weveallbeencaught, The Kniphand, Ideal Des Bordes, Alcedo
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