Saturday 2 January 2010

Dramatic day sparks major Festival moves

A dramatic day of racing on Tuesday sparked major changes in ante-post markets for the Cheltenham Festival, with Long Walk winner Big Buck's, Lexus Chase winner What A Friend and December Festival Hurdle winner Solwhit the highlights among a number of big movers.

What A Friend was introduced to the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup market by several firms and cut by others, and is now a general 20-1 chance for chasing's premier contest.

Stablemates Kauto Star and Denman still dominate that market and both were shortened following the Lexus, with Kauto Star clipped into 11-8 (from 6-4) with Bet365 and Denman now as short as 13-8 (from 2-1) with Stan James.

Solwhit, meanwhile, moved into 9-2 joint-favourite with Go Native for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with Paddy Power after his decisive defeat of Sublimity at Leopardstown.

The status of Big Buck's as many punters' banker of the Festival solidified following his Long Walk victory over Karabak and Diamond Harry, and he shortened into 4-7 Ladbrokes World Hurdle favourite from evens with William Hill.

Karabak tightened into 8-1 (from 12-1) with Bet365 for the same race, while Diamond Harry was introduced as a 12-1 chance for the RSA Chase after trainer Nick Williams hinted he may send his stable star novice chasing this term.

Take The Breeze earned a 20-1 quote for the Irish Independent Arkle with Ladbrokes and Quantitiveeasing was slashed to 12-1 (from 20-1) by William Hill for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

In the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, favourite Quevega is 5-4 from 6-4 with Paddy Power and Voler La Vedette is 7-2 from 9-2 with William Hill.

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