Following some eye-catching displays across the UK & IRE we look at who Oddschecker punters have been backing for Cheltenham in March
Faugheen – 33.1%
The machine is back! What a sight it was to see the nine-year-old return to the track on Punchestown and put in a vintage Faugheen performance. Dominating from the front, he set a relentless gallop throughout to pulverise his rivals and power away for a 16l victory. It was some performance when you consider his time off the track and it was great to see the relief on his trainer Willie Mullins’ face post-race after months of answering questions on the horse’s future.
He's back! What a performance from Faugheen as he scoots to victory in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at @punchestownrace: pic.twitter.com/kEXAFiKJfF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 19, 2017
Bookmakers reacted accordingly cutting the former winner to as short as 7/4 for the Champion Hurdle in March (from 6/1) with best price 9/4 available with some firms.
Apples Shakira – 28.4%
After plenty of hype, Nicky Henderson’s three-year-old finally made her racecourse debut on British soil on Saturday and boy did she arrive in style. A 17l winner of the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham, she well and truly stuffed the leading Juvenile of the season so far Gumball, in emphatic style.
Bookies took evasive action for both the Triumph Hurdle and Mares’ Novice Hurdle cutting her into as short as 7/2 for the former and 4/1 for the latter.
Fox Norton – 4.8%
It may be a bold statement but is there a more underrated horse in training than Colin Tizzard’s seven-year-old? Yet to finish outside the first three in any of his 15 starts over fences, he’s a multiple Grade 1 winner who defended his Schloer Chase crown in style on Sunday.
Fox Norton proves class to win the Shloer Chase at @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/ftzWw2CV3G
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 19, 2017
Talk of a potential pop at the King George over 3m in December post-race adds to the intrigue especially with Altior and Douvan (fitness permitting) standing in the way of Champion Chase success. His odds of 8/1 reflect the size of the task facing him in that contest while he now leads the market at 5/1 for the Ryanair Chase over 2m4f. Gold Cup success? Well one bookie is just 25/1 with 50’s the best odds available.
North Hill Harvey – 3.8%
Two trips to Prestbury Park have yielded to victories over fences for Dan Skelton’s six-year-old. He clearly loves jumping at speed and really turned on the taps down the hill on Sunday en route to an 18l success. The disappointing performance of River Wylde in second perhaps tempers enthusiasm slightly but the winner is certainly a horse who is now starting to fulfil the promise he showed connections earlier in his career. 25/1 for the Arkle before the weekend, one firm is now offering just 11/1 (best price 16/1).
Slate House – 3.16%
Another horse who is two from two at Cheltenham this season, Colin Tizzard’s exciting five-year-old added a Grade 2 victory to his maiden hurdle last month to throw his name into the Neptune hat. As big as 22/1 before the weekend, some bookmakers were sufficiently impressed to go just 12/1 for the novice contest is March.
