We look at which horses punters want to be on for the Festival in March following this weekend's action
Bristol De Mai – 23.78% of all ante-post bets
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ six-year-old put in another Haydock demolition job at the weekend, landing the Betfair Chase by a ridiculous 57 lengths. That took his record at the track to three wins from three starts, and a combined winning distance of 111 lengths. His record away from the North West venue is less emphatic although he does have a second-placed finish at the Festival on his CV in the JLT in 2016. His latest visit to Prestbury Park saw him finish seventh of 13 in the Gold Cup at March beaten 20 lengths but it appears punters and bookmakers are confident he can put in a better performance 12 months on with some firms just 8/1 (from 25’s) following Saturday’s stroll.
Samcro – 20.16%
There are plenty of people getting plenty excited about Gordon Elliott’s novice hurdler and it’s not hard to see why. He’s now five from five in his career after a 12 length victory at Navan on Sunday and his performance had punters and bookmakers going into overdrive. Depending on who you speak to, the 5/2 best price on offer for him in the Neptune in March is either banker material or a ludicrously short price with just under four months still to go until March. Of those behind him in the market for that race, only Next Destination has put in a performance over hurdles that is anywhere near the standard shown by Samcro and it’s almost certain the bandwagon will continue to roll on all the way through to Festival in March.
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Defi Du Seuil – 6.15%
A suprising entry in the top five, and mainly down to those ‘shrewd’ punters looking to snap up the value before Philip Hobbs’ four-year-old made it eight from eight over hurdles at Ascot on Saturday. However, as things transpired those shrewides were made to look anything but with the J P McManus horse well and truly put in his place on his first start against the older horses, beating just one home in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle. It looks like it may be back to the drawing board for connections with bookmakers pushing him out from 8/1 to 20/1 in places for the Champion Hurdle.
Top Notch – 5.64%
A top performance from Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old to land the Grade 2 Chase at Ascot on Saturday by 8 lengths. Slick jumping was the order of the day as Nico de Boinville pulled clear up the final straight to put a decent field to the sword. 14’s before the weekend, that impressive showing had bookmakers slashing his odds for the Ryanair Chase, with one firm now as short as 6/1.
Faugheen – 4.61%
A week after the machine returned to the racecourse, Willie Mullins’ superstar saw his bid to regain his Champion Hurdle crown receive another boost as one of main rivals in Defi Du Seuil flattered to deceive at Ascot. A stand out 15/8 for the Festival in March, if Mullins can get him there in one piece there will be few betting against him on last week’s evidence.
