La Bague Au Roi put in an eye-catching, classy performance in the Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot.
La Bague Au Roi put in an eye-catching, classy performance in the Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot. Although she was a short as 8/11, it was by far her biggest race of her career but the seven-year-old won by over 20 lengths and bookies were quick to shorten her odds for both the Mares and Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Trainer Warren Greatrex said he would consider the Stayers Hurdle if La Bague Au Roi would be successful at Ascot on Saturday and it is safe to say the way she left the field in the home stretch would suggest that it could well be on the cards.
If you were shrewd enough, Ladbrokes had her priced up at 40/1 for the Stayers Hurdle and now she is just 12/1 with them. She was also 20/1 this morning for the Mares Hurdle with William Hill but is now half of those odds at 10/1 with Sun Bets.
The manner and the way she blew the field apart suggests she can more than compete but punters will have to wait and see what race La Bague Au Roi ends up competing in.
Sam Spinner remains the 4/1 favourite for the Stayers Hurdle, which suggests La Bague Au Roi has a fair bit of competition on her hands. Jedd O’Keeffe’s horse won comprehensively in the Long Walk Hurdle before Christmas, which has been deemed as the most impressive performance by bookies.
Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old mare Apple’s Jade is best priced at 8/11 for the Mares’ Hurdle and is the one to beat. Having won the race last year, she has gone from strength to strength this season and her impressive win at Leopardstown has only strengthened her credentials.
Oddschecker spokesman George Elek: “La Bague Au Roi was very impressive at Ascot but she has tough competitors in either race she chooses to run in. It will be interesting to see what Warren Greatrex decides to do, but she has justified her moves in the markets after this afternoon's performance.”
