Diamond Harry cut for Gold Cup after Hennessy win

Diamond Harry was cut to best-price 16/1 (Stan James) for the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Other bookmakers were more cautious, with Gold Cup sponsors Totesport as short as 8/1 for the Hennessy winner.

Nick Williams’ seven-year-old gelding travelled supremely well under Daryl Jacob and saw off the challenges of Burton Port and Denman, who couldn’t manage to concede two stone to his rivals but still put up an admirable effort. Burton Port is now a best-price 20/1 (Stan James) to win the blue riband Cheltenham event in March, whilst Denman can be backed at best-price 8/1 (Bet365).

Earlier on the card, Peddlers Cross continued his rise up the hurdling ranks with a smooth victory in the rearranged Fighting Fifth. In beating Starluck and Binocular by one and a quarter and six lengths respectively Peddlers Cross maintained his 100% record over hurdles and announced himself loudly as a serious Champion Hurdle contender, for which he is now a best-price 6/1 shot (Totesport).

Runner-up Starluck has been cut to best-price 25/1 (Bet365), whilst Binocular has been eased at the head of the market to around 9/2.

Trainer Donald McCain will probably fit two further races into Peddlers Cross before the Cheltenham Festival. The five year old has won over longer than two miles but also has an abundance of speed as McCain confirmed: "The speed he's got is scary. He showed that in a couple of racecourse gallops and what he does at home every day."

Binocular was beaten in this race last year before going on to land the Champion Hurdle and jockey Tony McCoy suggested that he was not too disappointed with the performance of the odds on favourite who will come on for the run.

The 2011 Champion Hurdle looks like being a very competitive race with Menorah and Silviniaco Conti also having put in impressive performances in recent weeks (see earlier posts for details).

Big Buck’s showed himself to be as good as ever when winning the Long Distance Hurdle and has consolidated his position at the head of the market for the 2011 World Hurdle, with the reigning champion now best-price 4/5 (Paddy Power).

This was his ninth hurdle success in a row and his first under Tony McCoy, deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh and Noel Fehily. Settled in the rear in the early stages, McCoy moved Big Buck's into contention on the home turn and was pushed clear in the straight, winning with any amount in hand from Duc De Regniere.

Diamond Harry wins the Hennessy at the weekend

Non-runner, money back Festival offer

Ladbrokes have today introduced ‘non-runner, no-bet' markets on the four 2011 Cheltenham Festival championship races (as well as the King George VI Chase on December 26), for a limited period.

Ladbrokes' David Williams said: "Non-runner money-back offers tend to roll out as the big racedays approach, but we are giving our ante-post markets a shot in the arm nice and early.

"Punters can now get stuck into their King George and Festival fancies with the usual ante-post value, safe in the knowledge they won't be out of pocket if their selections don't line up."

He added: "We fully expect it to be one of our busiest weeks of ante-post trading for a long time and something to keep our customers warm as the cold snap deepens."

The Festival races in question are the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and World Hurdle.

Click here to claim a free £25 bet with Ladbrokes.

Big Buck's is currently 4/6 with Ladbrokes World Hurdle sponsors for the 2011 renewal and you can currently bet safe in the knowledge that if he doesn't return to defend his crown you'll get your money back

Long Run 12/1...for World Hurdle!

Bookmakers have added Long Run to their 2011 World Hurdle markets after Nicky Henderson surprisingly revealed that it could be his target in March, rather than the Gold Cup.

The beaten favourite in last week's Paddy Power Gold Cup, is now a best-price 12/1 (Victor Chandler) for the World Hurdle and Henderson admitted the idea might "put the cat among the pigeons", with Long Run as short as 16/1 for the Gold Cup. He will continue chasing for now, with his next objective being the King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26.

Reflecting on last week's defeat, Henderson said: "We feel that over 2m5f in such a fast-run race he was never within his comfort zone, but it must be remembered he is just out of the novice stage and is only a five-year-old. He should have a better chance of finding his rhythm over three miles in the King George."

The French import has not run over hurdles for more than 18 months and, on joining Henderson last year, he was put straight into Grade 1 company over fences, winning the Feltham Novices' Chase over 3m at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He dropped back to 2m to land the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick in February, but he has been beaten at Cheltenham in his last two races, finishing third in both the RSA Chase in March and the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Rising star - Long Run

Festival veterans shine

Two excellent performances over the weekend from Festival champions, with both Imperial Commander at Haydock and Master Minded at Ascot winning with ease. As a result their prices for the 2011 Gold Cup and Champion Chase respectively have been cut by bookmakers.

Imperial Commander took the first steps towards a successful defence of his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown when taking the Betfair Chase ahead of the fast finishing and somewhat enigmatic Tidal Bay. Although winning by a margin of just one and a quarter lengths, success never really seemed in doubt for the 10/11 favourite, who went to the front with Nacarat at the first fence in the back straight and steadily ground out victory with a series of fluent jumps.

Trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, said: "That's just what I wanted. It was absolutely superb and I couldn't be happier. He will definitely come on for the race. He hasn't had a racecourse gallop or anything."

Jockey, Paddy Brennan, added: "Today the hype was all on us and it was great. And I'm sure he'll improve a lot more. I'm looking forward to another day in March in the Cotswolds."

Bookies responded by cutting his price for the 2011 Gold Cup to best-price 9/2 (William Hill).

Master Minded, who disappointed when bidding for a third successive Champion Chase at Cheltenham in the spring, put in an imperious display in the Amlin 1965 Chase on Saturday. Ridden by Noel Fehily, he stormed to victory after Tony McCoy suffered a nasty spill on Albertas Run.

He had not raced since March because of injury but jumped supremely to challenge long-time leader Albertas Run three from home. And when McCoy was sent flying at that fence, Fehily steered the 5/6 favourite home by a 16-length winning margin.

"He travelled sweetly and jumped sweetly," said Fehily of the 2008 and 2009 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner.

"It was desperate to see AP go like that, we were both going well but I was very happy with mine, popping away with plenty left. I've never ridden a horse that can get in and out of a fence so quickly."

His delighted trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: "He travelled brilliantly and jumped brilliantly - he obviously got the trip really well too...I'm chuffed to bits, we're back in business."

Bookies slashed the seven-year-old 2011 Champion Chase odds from around 11/2 to best-price 3/1 (Bet365) ahead of the 2010 victor, Big Zeb, who the same firm offer at 4/1.

There were two other impressive winners for Nicholls over the weekend. Silviniaco Conti, the French bred four-year-old moved firmly into the betting for the Champion Hurdle with a most impressive victory in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot.

He won by an easy seven lengths and the result was never in doubt once jockey Noel Fehily took up the running three out. This was a decent field of older horses and included last year's Champion Hurdle third Zaynar who could finish no better than fourth.

The horse had been raised 18lb for his previous success at Chepstow but travelled very well throughout the race and made a big impression on the winning jockey: "That was very, very exciting. I like the way he picked up in the straight and he was very, very slick over the hurdles."

Nicholls declared himself "astounded" by the performance and Silviniaco Conti will now be aimed at the stanjames.com International (formerly the Bula Hurdle) at Cheltenham next month, with the intention of finding out if he really is a Champion Hurdle candidate, for which he is now best-price 10/1 (Bet365).

Timeform certainly think he's a serious contender giving him a rating of 164, with a 'p' added to indicate that further improvement can be expected. 2010 Champion Hurdle winner, Binocular, is the only current hurdler with a higher rating.

Timeform ratings for leading Champion Hurdle contenders:

Binocular 168
Silvianaco Conti 164p
Khyber Kim 164
Hurricane Fly 163
Solwhit 162
Menorah 161
Go Native 160
Dunguib 152
Peddlers Cross 148p

Toubab laid down the gauntlet to Cue Card after destroying the field in the Coronation Street 50th Anniversary Novices' Hurdle at Haydock.

The grey is now a best-price 16/1 (William Hill) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, for which Cue Card is 3/1 favourite, after strolling home by eight lengths.

"He was weak last year, but he ran really well in the Swinton Hurdle here. I didn't want to win an ordinary novice at that stage, so I put him away to start him from scratch this season" said Nicholls.

"I worked him with Master Minded on Wednesday and he was ready to go. We're going aim at the top two-mile novice races with him and that includes the Supreme Novices'."

Another contender in the Novice Hurdle division for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is the hugely impressive Megastar who hosed up at Ascot on his hurdling debut.

The Gary Moore horse had a good season last year which included a win at Aintree in the Bumper race and he has taken to hurdles with some style, he cruised to victory in the 2 mile Robert Giles Agencies Introductory Hurdle and now looks set for an exciting campaign.

The bookmakers were certainly impressed and he was slashed across the board for both the Supreme Novices Hurdle, for which he is now best-price 20/1 (Skybet) and the Neptune Novices Hurdle, for which he is also best-price 20/1 (Paddy Power).

Connections are yet to make their mind over the ideal trip for Megastar who did pull hard at Ascot and it may be that the extra trip of the Neptune will suit him. That could also mean he would avoid an extremely competitive looking Supreme Novices division, with the aforementioned Cue Card and Toubab along with Zaidpor who looks a star for Willie Mullins and the impressive Dare Me, who has hacked up twice already this campaign.

Imperial Commander winning at Haydock at the weekend

Quel Esprit 14/1 for RSA Chase

Quel Esprit, so good that he ran twice at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, is now a 14/1 shot for the 2011 RSA Chase after winning at Limerick yesterday, on his first outing over fences.

Esprit was always prominent for jockey Paul Townsend and soon saw off main rival Torphichen, to come home clear in the 2 mile, 3 and-a-half furlong Beginners Chase.

The grey was so promising as a hurdler that he was sent off at just 5/1 for the Neptune Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, but fell at the second. Willie Mullins was so sure of his talent and so determined to prove his worth that he sent Quel Esprit out for the Albert Bartlett two days later and he ran well for a long way before his stamina gave out over that three-mile trip.

The Mullins stable has a wealth of talent in the novice chaser department this season with such exciting recruits as Mikael D'Haguenet and Arvika Ligeonniere expected to make their fencing debut's shortly, but yesterday was the turn of the 6 year-old gelding and looking ahead to his next outing Mullins said:

"We'll find another novice and then we'll think about Christmas. It would look the job to step up to three miles at Leopardstown or he could come back here for the Guinness race on the 26th December."

Last weeks impressive Cheltenham scorer Time For Rupert is clear favourite for the RSA at 7/1, with Mikael D'Haguenet, a 10/1 shot. Thus whilst Quel Esprit is a general 14/1 chance, the RSA Chase is not his only possible Festival target and the four-mile National Hunt Chase and new Jewson Novices Chase over 2 and-a-half miles are alternatives for the trainer, who may favour Mikael D'Haguenet for the RSA.

Quel Esprit seems likely to make a chaser

Stan James Champion Hurdle Giveaway

A good offer from Stan James, the new sponsor of the Champion Hurdle.

If you place a bet on the 2011 Stan James Champion Hurdle and the race is won by Binocular, they will refund your losing stake as a free bet. This offer applies to all losing outright win bets - even if your horse does not race on the day, they'll still refund your stake.

A qualifying bet is a single bet on any horse other than Binocular in the Champion Hurdle and if Binocular wins, they'll refund your losing stake as a free bet, up to a maximum of £250.

This Champion Hurdle Giveaway ends at 12.00pm on Christmas Day 25/12/10 and is open to all existing and new customers. They also have an introductory offer for all new customers: open an account, place a first bet of up to £25 and they will match your stake with a free bet up to £25. Click here to register.

Binocular and Tony McCoy win the 2010 Champion Hurdle. Binocular is currently 3/1 favourite to win the 2011 renewal with new race sponsor Stan James

Festival Pointers (7) Menorah

Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner, Menorah, overcame top-weight of 11st 12lb to win the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle over 2miles 1½ furlongs under Richard Johnson, in the performance of the final day of Cheltenham's Open meeting.

He dug in deep in the closing stages to edge out Bothy in a thrilling finish, giving 27lb to the runner-up to illustrate that he is a real contender for the Champion Hurdle back here in March, for which he is now best-priced 10/1 with Totesport and Paddy Power.

The winner ranged up into contention on the outside as they raced around the final bend and Hobbs said: "It was a very good performance, especially as he went so wide - the ground was better there.

"He's only five so I hope there's room for improvement. I hope he's as good as Rooster Booster and Detroit City. He needs a strong pace, which is why he came here, and I certainly hope he can become a Champion Hurdle horse.

"He was rated 151 today but he should have a fair bit of improvement in him and the Champion Hurdle route is the one we will take before going chasing next year."

A slight mistake at the last did not prove costly to Menorah, who was given high praise from Johnson. He said: "He just nodded after the last, but knuckled down and found more when I asked him. He's very good, obviously he was very good last year, and we're finding the key to him.

"Rooster Booster was very special, but Menorah's not far behind."

Menorah (left) digs deep to win the Greatwood Hurdle under top-weight

Festival Pointers (6) Gauvain

Gauvain is a stand-out 25/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with William Hill, after a convincing victory in today's Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 Chase (Class 2) over 2 miles at Cheltenham.

Other bookmakers are more wary of the Nick Williams' trained eight-year-old, with prices as short as 10/1 quoted for the two-mile chase championship next March.

Gauvain defied a whopping 576-day absence from the racecourse to cause a 16/1 upset today after being delivered perfectly by Daryl Jacob, jumping the last upsides and powering clear of Forpadydeplasterer, who was finishing second for the seventh straight race.

Williams, for whom this was Gauvain's first outing, was understandably delighted - albeit a little shocked - with the victory. He said: "I'm thrilled, but like everyone else very surprised he won.

"He'll have one or two runs before the Champion Chase, but won't have an arduous time before the Festival. We took the blinkers off as an experiment today, and he doesn't seem to need them."

Gauvain was formerly trained by Charlie Mann, whose stable jockey Noel Fehily had ridden Gauvain to all five of his hurdle and chase victories in Britain previously. He also accompanied Gavain to 6th place behind Forpadydeplasterer in the 2009 Arkle Chase and in his previous run back in April 2009 when winning a Novices' Chase at Cheltenham's April meeting.

On the evidence of his last two Cheltenham runs, the 25/1 currently offered by William Hill for the Champion Chase is unlikely to last long.

Gauvain (right) has been cut to 10/1 by some bookies for the 2011 Champion Chase

Festival Pointers (5) Ghizao

Ghizao put in an excellent round of jumping to give Paul Nicholls another win in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase (Grade 2) over 2 miles (registered as the November Novices' Steeple Chase) earlier today.

Timmy Murphy's mount was sent off a 13/2 chance for a red-hot running of this race, but he made a mockery of those odds as he jumped into the lead two out and pulled well clear of his rivals racing up the Cheltenham hill to score by a wide margin from the well regarded Captain Chris, who plugged on to edge out Loosen My Load for second.

Ghizao had evidently come on for his first taste of fences here last month, when he finished second behind Kilmurry, who was the first one beaten this time. The winner was immediately made the new favourite with bookmakers for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy after this win and is currently best-priced 12/1 (with Paddy Power and Stan James).

That race is now very much on the agenda according to Nicholls, who said: "The obvious race for him now would be the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown but I had not thought further than today. Obviously the Arkle will now be a priority for him."

He added: "He worked brilliantly in the week with Master Minded, that was the best piece of work he has done and it made me think we were getting somewhere. We have always believed in him but he delivered today."

Ghizao is being aimed at the 2011 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham

Festival Pointers (4) Little Josh

Little Josh made every yard of the running under Sam Twiston-Davies to give the 18-year-old conditional rider the biggest win of his blossoming career in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2m4½f) on Saturday, overcoming talking horse Long Run, who could only manage third after making several minor jumping errors.

Twiston-Davies's last winner of this race was in 2008 with Imperial Commander, who took the Gold Cup at last season's Festival, but as one of the lower-rated runners today, Little Josh has a good deal further to travel. He is a strapping chaser with a grand attitude, though, and while he started as an outsider at 20-1, the only real concern as he turned for home with a healthy lead over Long Run and Dancing Tornado was that his jockey might have burned up too much energy too soon.

Instead, he had gauged it to the stride, and while Dancing Tornado was closing at the line, Twiston-Davies had just enough left to hold him off by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Long Run raced in a prominent position throughout under Sam Waley-Cohen, but when he was asked to quicken three from home, it soon became evident that he was not going to close the gap Little Josh had opened up and he was caught by the each-way mover Dancing Tornado on the run-in.

Little Josh, is owned by Tony Bloom, the chairman of League One leaders Brighton & Hove Albion and the eight-year-old is now likely to return to Cheltenham for a valuable handicap at the December meeting [Boylesports.com Gold Cup on December 11] when he and his jockey – who will keep the keep the ride, according to the trainer – will attempt to take another step up the ladder.

Teenage rider Sam Twiston-Davies, still just two weeks on from his 18th birthday, tasted his first Festival champagne on Baby Run in March and turned pro in the summer. Of Little Josh he said: "He is an unbelievable horse and he has to be ridden from the front like that. I was a bit surprised at the last fence because I thought Long Run or one of the Irish horses would come and get me, but all I had to do was kick for home."

Father and trainer Nigel, added: "I'm not going to get excited as he was only carrying 10st 5lb.I don't think he's another Imperial Commander, but where there's life there's hope."

The most likely 2011 Festival target for Little Josh, who failed to last home when sixth in the RSA Chase last term, will be the Ryanair Chase which is run over two miles and five furlongs, compared to the three miles and about half a furlong of the RSA.

Waley-Cohen was not too downbeat after Long Run had failed to justify the hype for the second successive time at Cheltenham, having been third in the RSA Chase on his final start of last season. The five-year-old got in close to a number of fences and the amateur rider said: "I think he ran a nice race and don't want to make excuses.

"For the most part he jumped well. You can't make mistakes in these sort of races, but hand on heart I can't say he would have won without them."

Long Run is now a best-priced 25/1 (Ladbrokes) for the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sam Twiston-Davies riding Little Josh, trained by his father Nigel

Festival Pointers (3) Sam Winner

Sam Winner ran out a hugely impressive winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon. His effortless victory earned him the position of new 7/1 favourite with bookmakers for the juvenile championship next March.

Making his British hurdling debut, the three-year-old French import travelled noticeably well throughout the race and could be seen cantering all over his rivals before the home turn. Skipping over the final hurdle, he pulled clear to register a facile fifteen length victory.

Sent off the 4/1 second favourite for the Festival trial, he saw off Grandouet, who was left floundering in second, with Plan A and the running-on Horatio Cane leading home the chasing pack.

The mount of Noel Fehily had raced three times over hurdles at Auteuil, finishing second on each occasion, and put his experience to good useover his fellow three-year-olds.

Trainer Paul Nicholls was jubilant afterwards and said "Until you run them you don’t know what you have got. Ruby [Walsh] thought he was our best chance today as he had given him such a good feel at home.

"It looks like we have a smart one but next year he will certainly be jumping fences. We liked him from day one and he has been an awesome jumper. We will see what happens but the hurly-burly of the Triumph will not bother him."

Fehily was clearly impressed with his mount, saying: “He gave me the feel of a real nice horse. They went a good gallop early doors but he made up the ground so easy. He’s entitled to be favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.”

Sam Winner and jockey Noel Fehily, well clear of their rivals in the Triumph Hurdle trial

Festival Pointers (2) Cue Card

The Colin Tizzard trained Cue Card continued his impressive climb up the hurdling ranks with a smooth victory in the Cheltenham Collection Sharp Novices Hurdle on the first day of the Open meeting, earning several quotes for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.

Highlighted by this blog last month as a best-priced 7/1 shot for the 2m Supreme Novices Hurdle, the four-year-old is now no bigger than 3/1 (Totesport) for what seems the most obvious target for this potential champion.

He is also quoted as 9/2 for the 5f further Neptune Novices Hurdle with Stan James, but as short as 11/4 with Victor Chandler.

On a more speculative note, most firms are now quoting the King's Theatre gelding for the 2011 Champion Hurdle, with 16/1 generally available.

Cue Card oozed class from start to finish in landing the race on Friday, jumping accurately throughout and had his rivals cooked by the home turn, eventually coming clear to score by eight lengths from Dunraven Storm.

Part of Cue Card’s charm is that he is trained by Colin Tizzard, who is perceived as a small west-country trainer. However, Tizzard has suddenly found himself as a trainer going places and each year another cowshed on his dairy farm is converted to stables.

Having hammered a quality field and maintained his unbeaten record, Tizzard is understandably excited by the prospects for the four-year-old and the Champion Hurdle is clearly a temptation:

“I don’t want to compare anything,” said Tizzard, “but Arkle won the Gold Cup as a five-year-old. So it wouldn’t be the stupidest thing in the world, would it, to run [Cue Card] in a hurdle? He’ll be five after Christmas.”

In fact, Tizzard had his facts wrong and Arkle was seven before he won the first of his three Gold Cups, but to dwell on that is to miss the point. At the age of 54, the trainer has finally got his hands on a horse that could win him the sport’s very best prizes.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Dunraven Storm, could hardly believe his talented charge had been brushed aside so readily. “The winner must be an exceptional horse, as some of the others behind us are pretty good, too.” Richard Johnson, riding the runner-up, said Cue Card went past him as if he had joined the race at the second-last.

Timeform have come up with a figure of 156 for the winner, describing the form as “extraordinarily high for this stage of the season” and 8lb better than the average winner of the Supreme. As the horse is four years old, he is a near certainty to improve before March.

Having begun to come down to earth, Tizzard said Cue Card would have one more run before the Festival, towards the end of the year. “We’ve got to mind him now, a little bit, because he had a proper race today. We want to have a little bit left for spring.” Nor would he be drawn further on the Champion Hurdle question, insisting that no decision will be made until after Christmas.

Cue Card clears the last flight at Cheltenham on Friday

Festival Pointers (1) Time For Rupert

So far, as is always the case, the Cheltenham Open meeting has thrown up some useful Festival pointers and we'll be looking at some of the most promising performances and some early Festival prices.

Time For Rupert was highlighted by this blog after the 2010 Cheltenham Festival as one of the loser's to note, finishing second to the exceptional Big Buck's in the World Hurdle. Time For Rupert had no chance against the heralded victor, but he did finish 11 lengths clear of the third in March and on Friday made made a perfect start to his chasing career with a determined victory for trainer Paul Webber.

The winner, sent off a 7/2 shot, finished eight lengths ahead of runner-up Hell's Bay in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase (Class 2) over 2m4½f and bookmakers reacted by cutting him to best-price 8/1 (Bet365) favourite for the RSA Chase.

From the outset Mr Thriller and Time For Rupert disputed the lead and Kennedy was content to drop back slightly as Noel Fehily and Othermix came up to challenge. Going downhill, Kennedy started to urge Time For Rupert closer, passing Othermix for second and then setting about the long-time leader Mr Thriller.

The shorter trip had been highlighted as a concern for Time For Rupert and behind him nothing was travelling better than Joe Tizzard on Hell's Bay and that pair began to close steadily in the home straight. The penultimate fence proved the undoing of Mr Thriller, who crumpled on landing, though happily he and jockey Tom Scudamore were quickly up, leaving Hell's Bay and Time For Rupert to battle it out.

Neither jumped the last spectacularly, but Kennedy's mount was quicker away from the obstacle and used his proven stamina to draw clear and win by eight lengths.

Trainer Paul Webber said: "The RSA Chase is the yellow brick road and we'll see if we can avoid the potholes on the way. He's the highest-rated horse we've had and Will was very happy. He travelled so easily and filled him with confidence the whole way round. I was half inclined to sneak off to Bangor, but the owners [Littlecote Racing Partnership] said let's go to Cheltenham and get some practice in. He seems to love it here."