The championship races at the Cheltenham Festival continue to be examined more heavily under the microscope. With two big races to potentially shape the race in three months’ time, here are how the markets have shaped up.
Friday, 29th November – Long Distance Hurdle @ Newbury
Though only four runners went to post in this Newbury contest, there is something to be said for the quality of the winner here. Strong Leader ran out an authoritative winner of this race in a similar fashion to how he won his first Grade 1 at Aintree at the end of last season.
Olly Murphy’s charge relatively cruises through this race before kicking clear after the last to beat Pertemps Final winner Monmiral by 3 ½ lengths, conceding him 2lb. That form alone is below what would be required at Cheltenham, and the Stayers’ Hurdle is far from guaranteed to be his destination with his trainer believing he may be significantly better on a flatter track.
Nevertheless, he is seen as the clear best of the Brits at this juncture, with prices of 12/1 disappearing with SkyBet, Paddy Power and Betfair. He is now 10/1 with the first-named for the Thursday highlight.
Monmiral himself was shortened for the Stayers’ after his game runner-up effort. He possesses less natural ability than Strong Leader, but has proven himself well-equipped for 3m at Cheltenham after his big handicap success there last season. 40/1 is now SkyBet’s best on show, down from 50s.
The disappointment of the contest was third-placed Langer Dan. The two-time Coral Cup winner drifted markedly before the off having been relatively close to favouritism at one stage, and was ineffective, as he has been at this time of the season previously. He goes well at Cheltenham, but nevertheless drifted from 20/1 to 33s with Paddy Power and Betfair after only beating rank outsider Flight Deck by a short head despite being rated 28lb superior.
Sunday, 1st December – Hatton’s Grace Hurdle @ Fairyhouse
Although it was mostly taken that Lossiemouth had laid down a marker for her Champion Hurdle claims by steamrolling her rivals in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle over 2m4f at Fairyhouse, Willie Mullins’ star mare also shortened for the Stayers’ Hurdle after her outstanding display. A favourite for the Tuesday showpiece, she is now a best price of 10/1 should her trainer find cause to reroute her to Thursday. That seems unlikely at this stage, but any defeat prior to the Festival could cause a rethink.
In second, Teahupoo was left trailing devastatingly in the five-year-old’s wake. He had won the last two renewals of this race and was a cosy winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in March. However, though this was an emphatic first defeat in four starts, his walk in the market was only a brief one, going from 2/1 to a best of 5/2. He is still a clear favourite to defend his title at Cheltenham, with the toughest of his potential opponents all seeming destined to race elsewhere.
Neither Beacon Edge or Maxxum can be backed in ante-post markets for the Stayers’ as yet.
Stayers’ Hurdle Ante-Post Movers
Lossiemouth ↑ 10/1 from 16/1
Strong Leader ↑ 10/1 from 12/1
Monmiral ↑ 40/1 from 50/1
Teahupoo ↓ 5/2 from 2/1
Langer Dan ↓ 33/1 from 20/1
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