This lot have been hugely backed after some impressive performances over the last few days.
AL DANCER (9/2 best price for the Supreme Novices Hurdle)
The weekend winner of the Betfair Hurdle, Al Dancer is now the clear favourite for the opening race of Cheltenham after coming in from 10/1 to overtake Fakir Doudairies with most bookies. Nigel Twiston-Davies said he was a ‘championship horse’, and it could well take something of that nature to beat him up the hill in March.
CLAN DES OBEAUX (5/1 best price for the Gold Cup)
Now ‘the finished article’ according to Paul Nicholls, he soared over the last fence to reel in Terrefort and take the Denman Chase convincingly. He’s just behind long-time favourite Presenting Percy in the betting, but he’s come in from 10/1 and looked every bit the top contender.
TIGER ROLL (5/4 best price for the Cross Country Chase)
Apparently, you’re not supposed to win tune-up races. Well, nobody told Tiger Roll that, who promptly cruised home in the Boyne Hurdle at pre-race odds of 40/1. Accumulating 91% of total bets placed on this race over the weekend, hopes are sky-high that the nine-year-old can retain his crown.
SIR EREC (6/4 best price for the Triumph Hurdle)
Still unbeaten over hurdles, Joseph O’Brien’s four-year-old looked mightily impressive in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle and showed a great turn of foot at the end. With the nearest rival in the betting market (Fakir Doudairies) at 10/1, many people may view him as one of the ‘locks’ of day four.
PAISLEY PARK (9/4 best price for the Stayers Hurdle)
The only horse on this list that didn’t run at the weekend, Andrew Gemmell’s seven-year-old continues to attract attention with an unblemished record this season. With more bets placed on him this weekend than any other horse in the market put together, he looks very hard to oppose.
