The 2017 winner has been ruled out due to injury and the response in the Gold Cup market was immediate.
It’s a sad evening as Jessica Harrington posted on Social Media announcing that 2017 Gold Cup winner Sizing John will be unable to defend his crown as he is missing this year’s race due to injury.
A hairline pelvis fracture is the issue for the eight-year-old who was well fancied in the markets by punters and experts alike.
The news has rippled through the market, with all the favourites being slashed further.
The current favourite remains Might Bite, who has gone in from 4s to 11/4 in places, but can still be backed at a best price of 10/3.
Native River was 6/1 this morning, but the news of last year’s winners absence has seen him cut to 5/1, 9/2 in places.
It may be time to start looking further down the field, with a potential extra each-way place coming into contention.
The best backed horse in the last 24 hours outside of the top two has been Definitly Red, with the horse now being cut to 12s tonight, despite being 20/1 this morning. He can be found at a best price of 16/1.
Oddschecker Spokesman George Elek: “It’s a shame that we will miss out on the chance of Sizing John fighting to defend his Gold Cup crown, but Antepost backers of the other favourites may well be sitting at some huge prices. Of the rest, their chances for Each-Way placings are now improved, with the likes of Definitly Red having love shown from punters even before tonight’s news.”
