We round-up the top five ante-post bets following last weekend's action
Sizing John – 15.89& of all ante-post bets
What a performance from Jessica Harrington’s Gold Cup king at Punchestown on Sunday. The seven-year-old oozed class as he registered a seven length victory in the John Durkan, readily accounting for Willie Mullins’ dual winner Djakadam in the process. Bar a silly mistake at the second, he was faultless throughout, travelling with real authority as he eased his way to the front with a number of immaculate jumps. The decision by connections to skip the Betfair Chase at Haydock looks a masterstroke and the scary thing is, last season’s triple Gold Cup winner could still be improving! Bookmakers reacted to his performance by slashing his odds to as short as 3/1 to defend his Gold Cup crown at Prestbury Park in March, making him clear favourite ahead of Might Bite and Yorkhill.
The performance of a champion - Sizing John wins the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial @punchestownrace Chase! pic.twitter.com/vENHfwwgGb
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 10, 2017
Sceau Royal – 11.53%
Saturday’s Grade 1 Novice at Sandown was on paper one of the strongest of its kind in the UK this season. As it was, it was the outsider of the five-strong field that turned it into a precession. Alan King’s five-year-old may not be the biggest but he was nimble over his fences throughout before scooting clear up the run-in. There was no hiding place in Saturday’s contest with a blistering pace set throughout and it was Sceau Royal who emerged with his reputation thoroughly enhanced. 20/1 for the Arkle before the weekend, him impressive showing saw some bookies go as short as 6/1 for the 2mile contest with 9/1 best price.
Blaklion – 10.58%
Sent off at just 7/4 for the Becher following huge support both in the ante-post market and on the day, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ eight-year-old delivered in no uncertain terms with an exciting eight length victory at Aintree on Saturday. Fourth in last year’s National, a return to the north west venue next April looks inevitable after this dominate display. Now as short as 9/1 in the ante-post market, long gone are the 16’s available before the weekend. The victory was also another boost for the Charlie Hall Chase form, where Blaklion finished ½ a length behind Betfair Chase winner Britsol De Mai, whilst third that day Definitly Red was also victorious on Saturday’s Aintree card.
Hollowgraphic – 4.16%
Willie Mullins looks to have another nice bumper horse on his hands on the evidence of Sunday’s performance. The six-year-old tracked the leaders throughout before easing clear up the home straight to record a 13 length victory. Bookmakers were taking no chances off the back of the taking performance, cutting the Mullins horse into as short as 8/1 from 20’s pre-race for the Champion Bumper in March.
Yet another promising young horse from the @WillieMullinsNH yard - Hollowgraphic stretches clear in the @punchestownrace bumper... pic.twitter.com/35vgcmxgJO
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 10, 2017
Gatabird – 2.89%
Another Mullins horse to showcase his Festival credentials at the weekend, the Rich Ricci-owned five-year-old made a pleasing start to life over hurdles with a commanding seven length victory. A smart bumper performer last season, the point-to-point winner rates an exciting recruit to the hurdles game and looks to have options come March time. As short as 12/1 for the Ballymore Novices hurdle, he was also cut into the same odds for the Albert Bartlett off the back of his debut showing.
