Neither Gordon Elliott nor Willie Mullins are the most popular punt this week…
Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins are set to battle it out for the Top Trainer tag at this year’s Cheltenham Festival – with bookies virtually unable to split the pair.
Both Elliott and Mullins are neck-and-neck at 7/4 best price on the Oddschecker grids, but neither is the most-backed in the last 24 hours, or over the past week.
That accolade goes to County Waterford-based Henry de Bromhead, who is the punters pick to topple the top two.
Over the past week, de Bromhead has accumulated 46% of all bets, resulting in all bookmakers offering the market, cutting odds.
In fact, William Hill have cut odds on de Bromhead winning from 14/1 into 10/1.
It will take a considered effort to shift either of the two big guns in the market, but third favourite Nicky Henderson will have a chance.
Henderson is as short as 10/3, but as long as 9/2 to train the most winners at this year’s iteration of the festival.
Both priced at 33/1, both Colin Tizzard and Paul Nicholls round off the market.
Elliott and Mullins’ stranglehold on the top individual accolade for trainers stretches all the way back until 2013.
Nicky Henderson did top the table back in 2012, although Elliott and Mullins were victors in the two years prior.
Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson: “It will be a tough ask to knock both Mullins and Elliott of their perch, but Henry De Bromhead will arrive at Cheltenham with an array of supremely talented horses.
“Stars such Honeysuckle, Minella Indo and Notebook, who are all leading fancies in their respective races have meant that punters quietly fancy the Irishman to challenge for the top trainer accolade.”
