He was a 7/2 chance before his setback
Gordon Elliott has confirmed that Champagne Classic, the second favourite for the National Hunt Chase, is out for the rest of the season.
He was a general 7/2 chance for the race, having taken 24% of all bets for the race through Oddschecker in the last three months.
The Gigginstown owned horse had been backed down from double-figure prices since the start of the season, leaving plenty of ante-post slips rendered pointless.
Champagne Classic had put in two very impressive performances at the start of the season, particularly when beating Discorama at Wexford.
The 2017 Martin Pipe winner was last seen in December when second to Battleoverdoyen at Leopardstown. He wasn’t given a hard time of it by Mark Walsh and plenty thought he was tailor made for the National Hunt Chase.
It looked it be a great duel between himself and Carefully Selected but punters will not be treated to the clash following his setback.
The nine-year-old is a tremendously talented horse and hopefully, he will be back next season to pick up where he left off.
Champagne Classic is out of the Cheltenham Festival.
— Oddschecker Racing (@OddsRacing) February 27, 2020
He was second favourite for the National Hunt Chase behind Carefully Selected. https://t.co/GplmKCtVSw
Carefully Selected has been cut from 11/4 into as short as 2/1 following the news, and looks very strong at the top of the market. However, one bookmaker is still a stand out 11/4 on Willie Mullins’ eight-year-old.
Copperhead is now the second favourite at the best price of 6/1 and as short as 7/2. He shot up the market after his Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase demolition job at Ascot. He could still go down the RSA route but would be a massive player if connections decide to go for the longer trip.
Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson: “The Champagne Classic news will have serious ramifications on the market and final destination of a number of runners.
“The 2017 Martin Pipe winner has been slowly shortening for the recently shortened 'four-miler', with plenty of confident words coming out of the Gordon Elliott stable since two promising comeback wins in October.
“The Mullins trained ante-post favourite Carefully Selected has been clipped in as a result, with recent Ascot scorer Copperhead shifted into a best price 6/1 second favourite without the non-runner no bet concession.
“Colin Tizzard's staying chaser is the pick of many for the competitive Grade 1 RSA Chase a day later, however with the Elliott runner now missing and plenty of question marks about the jumping and staying power of the favourite, it would be no surprise to see the son of Sulamani notch his fourth consecutive win in the 3m6f Day 1 contest and I expect him to continue to shorten should he be confirmed for the race."
