Bookies react as the Berkshire-based trainer completes an impressive double at Kempton.
Back-to-back winners for Nicky Henderson at Kempton on Monday have unsurprisingly shaken up the ante-post markets for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Any doubts about the potential of Epatante over hurdles were quickly extinguished with a convincing win in the opening race at Kempton on her hurdling debut and first start for Henderson’s yard.
The four-year-old entered the market for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at 16/1, but has already been cut to 8/1 in places, with a best price of 10/1. She sits second favourite in that market behind Willie Mullins’ Relegate (9/1).
Punters have not wasted time on getting behind Epatante, with 81% of bets on the market in the last 24 hours going her way.
Meanwhile, she’s also been slashed from 40/1 to as short as 16/1 for the Supreme Novice Hurdle. The best price available on that market is 25/1.
In the following race at Kempton, stablemate Kupatana fended off all challengers with some spectacular jumping to win by five lengths on her chasing debut. Subsequently, punters fancy the five-year-old for an appearance at Cheltenham, though which race she would be aimed at remains to be seen.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “Nicky Henderson will always go to Prestbury Park in March with some of the Festival's major players, and these two put in performances at Kempton that already have people talking of a Cheltenham buzz.”
“Epatante showed a remarkable turn of foot after the last, whilst Kupatana put in a round of jumping that many of Henderson's star chasers from the past would have been proud of.”
