Mister Fisher backed into favouritism, but plenty of runners are attracting support.
- Mister Fisher most backed, but tight in betting
- Saint Sonnet has drifted from 4/1 out to 11/2
- Aso and Kauto Riko being supported at big prices
It is set to be a fascinating renewal of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with a whole host of horses that have solid claims. The betting so far on oddschecker is testament to that. Since the market opened on Thursday, not one horse has had over 10% of the market share. A number of those at the front of the market are attracting supporters, but punters aren’t being put off by those at bigger prices either.
Mister Fisher most backed but very tight in betting
It’s no surprise to see Mister Fisher being strongly supported, and he’s the most backed horse through oddschecker with 9.8% of bets in the market. He is now the favourite with a number of bookmakers at a best price of 5/1. His fourth in the Marsh at Cheltenham looks like one of the best pieces of form on offer coming into the race. A lovely turn of foot, Mister Fisher won a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January when getting the better of Al Dancer.
Al Dancer himself is a 9/1 chance, who made a winning return on seasonal reappearance last month at Newton Abbot. The seven-year-old has plenty of strong course form to his name, but oddschecker users are looking elsewhere at the moment.
Slate House, who fell at the second last fence in this race last year, is the second most backed horse with 9.6% of bets so far. He went onto Grade 1 success following his fall and is likely to give a bold account off 5lb higher than last year. Colin Tizzard’s runner has been cut into as short as 17/2, but you can still get 10/1 with two firms.
Last year’s winner, Happy Diva, has taken 8.8% of bets, making her the third most popular horse. A solid reappearance last month at Wetherby, Kerry Lee will have her nicely tuned for this. She will need an even better display than last year, given she is now running off a mark of 151. However, plenty think she is up to the task. She's currently a 14/1 chance.
Saint Sonnet was installed favourite initially at 4/1, but has drifted out to as big as 11/2 now. Oddschecker users are looking elsewhere too; the five-year-old is only the eleventh most backed horse through oddschecker. However, his run in the Marsh was impressive for a horse having just his second run for Paul Nicholls. He was nine lengths behind Mister Fisher that day, but receives 8lb on Saturday. Their current prices suggest it’s very hard to split the two, but punters are siding with Mister Fisher rather than Saint Sonnet at the time of writing.
Siruh Du Lac makes his debut for David Pipe here. Last seen when he fell two out at the Cheltenham Festival, he was going well and had every chance. The seven-year-old keeps a mark of 150, which some may view as generous. A number of bookies have cut the seven-year-old’s price into as short as 10/1 from 12/1 over the course of today.
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Simply The Betts (11/2) hasn't run since winning at Cheltenham and Harry Whittington’s runner has to defy an 8lb rise in the weights. His handicap form is rock solid and 8.5% of oddschecker punters think he will be able to contend with the lofty amount of weight he has to carry here.
The Russian Doyen has been backed from 20/1 into 14/1 and is the seventh most popular horse on oddschecker. Colin Tizzard’s seven-year-old turns up having had a nice preparation over hurdles at Fontwell. Lightly raced for his age, a chasing mark of 138 may well underestimate him.
Two at big prices have their supporters
Of those at bigger prices, Aso and Kauto Riko have both attracted some interest.
The former is a graded performer who runs in a handicap for the first time since January 2019, when he won over this course and distance. He beat Happy Diva that day giving her a huge amount of weight.
Despite him drifting to 25/1, the 10-year-old is still attracting his fair share of supporters on oddschecker, with the ground looking like it will suit him.
The latter is one to catch at the start of the season and he’s caught the eye of some oddschecker users. At a best price of 50/1, oddschecker users are happy to take their chances on the nine-year-old, who was just beaten by Top Notch (rated 161 at the time) in December last year.
It’s incredibly tight in the betting at the moment, with no horse proving far more popular than any of their rivals. Currently, Mister Fisher is the most popular choice but only just. Last year’s winner, Happy Diva and last year’s unlucky faller, Slate House are both attracting plenty of attention. Punters are currently cold on Saint Sonnet at the front of the market, but it’s tough to rule out any Paul Nicholls horse at the moment.
