Bookmakers have been forced to slash the six-year-old’s odds after large volume of bets
Oddschecker punters have been piling in on Colin Tizzard’s Finian’s Oscar for Stayers Hurdle glory in March after the trainer announced the Grade 1 winning hurdler would be aimed at the race rather than running in any of the Novice Chases at the Festival.
Tizzard said on Tuesday: "We're going to switch back to hurdles for the rest of the season, with the aim being to run in the Stayers' Hurdle. He jumps fences adequately but I don't think he's that brave.”
“I don't want to run him in a big race over fences at Cheltenham when there's a possibility he could shake them up in the Stayers' Hurdle. On last season's hurdles form you'd have to think he could be a major contender as well."
Those comments have seen bookmakers slash his odds from as big as 20/1 to just 8/1 in places with 14/1 now best odds available.
Over the last 24 hours, 20.54% of all Cheltenham ante-post bets through Oddschecker have been on last year’s Tolworth winner, making him the most popular pick over that period.
The Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Trials days looks his most likely destination before bidding for further Grade 1 success over course and distance in March.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “Despite only being a six-year-old, Finian’s Oscar has managed to achieve plenty and when you look at what he achieved over the smaller obstacles, a switch back to hurdles looks a smart choice. The large volume of bets we’ve seen through the site over the last 24 hours indicate that punters believe that to be the case and the Stayers Hurdle looks wide open with a number of the market principles having alternative options in March.”
