We take a look at the jumps horses that have attracted the most money from punters in the past year.
MIGHT BITE
The 2017 RSA Chase winner finished second in the Gold Cup in 2018 and went on to win the Betway Bowl at Aintree.
Despite disappointing in the Betfair Chase on his seasonal reappearance, Might Bite went off the heavy favourite for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. Closing off the year finishing last of the runners in the Kempton highlight, Nicky Henderson will be hoping for more from the ten-year-old in 2019. He’s drifted out to 16/1 for the Gold Cup this time round.
SAMCRO
Last season’s outstanding novice hurdler, Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old capped off an incredible run of wins with a victory in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
His reappearance this season has not gone to plan, beaten convincingly in the Fighting Fifth before trailing home in fifth place in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown. Connections are scratching their heads over what to do with Samcro next, but fear that this season will be a write off for him. He’s right down the pecking order at 25/1 for the Champion Hurdle, having previously been the favourite.
APPLE'S SHAKIRA
Unbeaten going into the Cheltenham Festival, punters had been enjoying plenty of success backing the JP McManus-owned juvenile. With a hat-trick of wins at Prestbury Park last season, it looked a safe bet that she would streak home in the Triumph Hurdle too. She ended up being well beaten by Farclas and co. and only managed third at Aintree in her final race of the season.
Somewhat living in the shadow of sister Apple’s Jade going into 2019, she was pulled up at Sandown on her reappearance and looks to have an uncertain future this season. She sits at 25/1 for the Mares’ Hurdle and her chances of lining up in the Champion Hurdle or Stayers Hurdle have slimmed considerably.
SANTINI
Another of Nicky Henderson’s stars, Santini was unbeaten after three starts last season, winning at Cheltenham in January to set up a shot at the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival. Going off as a short price favourite, punters were left disappointed when he only managed third. The promising hurdler went on to win at Aintree a month later.
With a win on his chasing debut to kick off this season, it looked like it would be more of the same from Santini. However, having been turned over by La Bague Au Roi and Topofthegame when heavy favourite for the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day, punters might be exercising a little more caution going into 2019. He’s still the current favourite for the RSA Chase at 4/1.
SAM SPINNER
Having firmly established himself at the top of the hurdles staying division in 2017, Jedd O’Keeffe’s gelding had a thoroughly disappointing spring, failing to justify favouritism when finishing fifth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and third the following month at Aintree.
Unseating Joe Colliver on both of his starts so far this season, in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the JLT Hurdle at Ascot, punters might not be so quick to back Sam Spinner in 2019. He’s a hefty 50/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at this year’s festival.
These five National Hunt horses were identified as those that had the most amount of money placed on them by Oddschecker users in 2018.
