The four-year-old shed his maiden tag in style despite being outsider of the field
Nick Williams and Lizzie Kelly combined to cause a minor upset at Huntingdon on Friday as Esprit De Somoza landed the Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle at odds of 20/1.
Backed in from 40/1 earlier in the day, the outsider of the five-strong field powered to victory after jumping to front over the last to register a five length success.
Pre-race favourites Gumball and Style De Garde set the pace throughout and looked to have it between them turning for home. However it was Esprit De Somoza who emerged as the biggest danger approaching the last under a well-timed ride from Kelly, before asserting up the run-in to throw their name into the Triumph Hurdle picture.
Esprit De Somoza beats Gumball under a good ride from @LizDKelly. pic.twitter.com/Lp8JKArmce
— OLBG Betting Tips (@OLBG) January 12, 2018
Beaten over 23 lengths on his first start by fellow Triumph hopeful Sussex Ranger, the Irish Wells gelding wasn’t even priced up in the ante-post betting before today’s race but was soon featuring in the market with some firms as short as 20/1 (best price 33/1).
Early season ante-post favourite Gumball saw his odds drift out to 40/1 following his defeat whilst Sussex Ranger shortened with some firms after seeing the form of his Sandown win franked.
Trainer Nicky Henderson still has a stranglehold at the top of the market with Apples Shakira (7/2) and We Have A Dream (8/1) leading the way.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: "Having halved in price from massive early morning odds, Esprit De Somoza's good run today may not have been such a surprise to those in the know. Ante-post favourite backers have been well and truly stung on Gumball, who has drifted right out of the primaries after that run"
