Cheltenham Betting
Cheltenham Day One - A Betting Preview
The Supreme Novice Hurdle will once again be the curtain raiser for the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 - and looking at the betting you would be forgiven for thinking that it is a one horse race. It will certainly take a huge shot of bravery to take on the mighty Dunguib, a red hot favourite at 4/6.
However if you are keen to oppose the market leader there is definitely some value available. One of the potential threats to Dunguib is Phillip Hobbs’s Menorah. He was touched off in a falsely run race at Ascot last time but his previous form suggests he will be right up there. He is a 12/1 chance now and generally 10/1 elsewhere.
Get Me Out Of Here was very, very impressive when hauling in Ronaldo Des Mottes to land the Totesport Trophy at Newbury and that has put him well in contention for the Festival. His fast, staying on finish in that race suggests that a frenetic Supreme Novice could play right into his hands - he is 8/1.
Second race of day one is the Arkle Challenge Trophy and it looks like the hottest renewal in quite some time.
A whole host of horses hold major chances in this race but the value at the moment is with Riverside Theatre. Two from two so far over fences, Nicky Henderson’s charge is 10/1 when generally 8/1 or 9/1 elsewhere.
The talked up Somersby, trained by Festival expert Henrietta Knight, is 6/1. He has only had the one run to date this season but he is of the equine breed that goes best when fresh, unlike the majority of horses who have been scrambling for prep runs to get fit.
Despite the outstanding quality and competition in the days opening races, all eyes will be on the feature of the card, the Champion Hurdle.
Like 2009 it is an open betting heat and a well priced winner is far from out of the question.
Alan King’s Medermitcould well be the fastest improving horse in training at the moment. He will have to step up another level to win this elite race, but many believe he can. He is 8/1 in most places now, a quarter of the odds he was a couple of months ago. We’re still offering 9/1 however about the grey’s chances.
Starluck is up near the head of the form and the 5 year-old is a massive each way price at 16/1. Zaynar’s flop at Kelso has doubled his odds to 8/1, whilst the favourite, the genuine and speedy Solwhit is 7/2 (3/1 with most firms).
