Long time market leader Sam Winner was expected to consolidate his position after two impressive Cheltenham victories, but Paul Nicholl's charge could only finish a disappointing fourth behind easy winner Marsh Warbler.
Trained at Malton by Brian Ellison, Fearghal Davis's mount made most of the running and had little trouble in holding off Houblon Des Obeaux and Smad Place, to shoot to the head of the Triumph Hurdle betting. Ellison has long been considered one of the top trainers in the north, both on the flat and over jumps, and in Marsh Warbler he may have found the horse to take him to the next level.
The trainer has always held the son of top miler Barathea in high regard, saying: "We knew he was a good horse but when you go down south and take on the big boys you're not sure what will happen. He's a really improving horse and still seems to be improving."
Regarding a trip to the Festival, Ellison issued a word of caution, saying: "We'll look at the Triumph Hurdle now but if it came up fast, he wouldn't run. If it's good to soft he'll probably take his chance but if it's quick we might just wait for Aintree or if that didn't happen then there's Punchestown."
Nonetheless, Marsh Warbler is now best-price 10/1 (Bet365) for Triumph Hurdle glory on March 18th, whilst Sam Winner has drifted out to best-price 12/1 (Bet365 and Stan James).
Also of note at Chepstow was the performance of The Minack. A winning point-to-pointer, the seven-year-old had been brought along slowly over hurdles with fences in mind and he looks a possible Cheltenham horse on this evidence.
This was over two-miles and five furlongs and the most obvious races at Cheltenham are the new Jewson Novices' race and the RSA Chase. The former may be the favoured run, as he looks a horse with plenty of speed and he is currently best-price 25/1 (Victor Chandler). Alternatively he can backed at best-price 33/1 (Stan James) for the RSA.
Another market mover yesterday was Minella Class who produced a commanding performance in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. Ridden by Barry Geraghty, the Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old overcame testing conditions to comfortably beat Megastar and Toubab.
Bookmakers reacted by clipping Minella Class to best-price 14/1 (Skybet) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, although Henderson is leaning towards the Neptune Investment Managament Novices' Hurdle, for which he is now best-price 12/1 (Victor Chandler).
Henderson said: "He's still learning, but he did quicken up in that ground. He'll make a lovely chaser and if I had to hazard a guess he'd go for the two mile five race [the Neptune] at Cheltenham. I just think he'd travel and quicken better on better ground over that trip."
Geraghty added: "He did it well and travelled great. He's kept on well there and it's big difference on this ground with a horse who handles it and one that doesn't."
Indeed, the ground was offered as an excuse for the beaten horses. Megastar was seven lengths back in second and trainer Gary Moore said: "He got stuck in the worst ground from the Pond Fence onwards and didn't get home. He only ran ten days ago so it was a creditable effort. He's come back with two bad cuts though, and will have a break, but Cheltenham is still on the agenda."
He can now be backed at best-price 25/1 for both the Supreme Novices' (Paddy Power) and the Neptune Novices' (Stan James).
Toubab, impressive in a Listed race at Haydock last time, was unable to pick up, finishing third. Jockey Sam Thomas said: "He's only just turned five and these were the worst conditions he's raced in." He is currently best-price 14/1 (Bet365) for the County Hurdle.
Also of interest to punters yesterday, with most of the field likely to head to the Cheltenham Festival for one race or another, was the two mile Handicap Chase at Sandown - indeed the race almost had the feel of a Grand Annual trial about it.
Winner Cornas was never too far off the pace and part of a bunch of half a dozen runners who had gone clear, he struck for home as they turned in and never really looked like finishing anywhere else but in first.
The nine-year-old is now best-price 16/1 (Paddy Power) second-favourite for the Grand Annual, but he was racing off 148 here and may find life tougher in future, as the handicapper will shunt him back into the mid 150's after this performance.
Oh Crick, along with Riguez Dancer, started to creep into the race at the railway fences and both looked destined to play a major hand in the finish. However whilst the latter dropped away into fourth, Oh Crick finished his race with more momentum and was never nearer than at the line. This was a much better performance - he is the sort of horse to blossom around the spring and can also be backed at best-price 16/1 (Bet365) for the Grand Annual.
Finally at Sandown on Saturday, there was an emphatic success for Mille Chief in the Handicap Hurdle - a victory which might have one or two ante-post bettors sitting up and taking note. Bookmakers reacted by shortening his odds for the Champion Hurdle to best-price 33/1 (888sport).
Alan King's gelding travelled very powerfully throughout the race and he scooted away from the field after the final flight of hurdles. The totesport trophy at Newbury is the next port of call, where he will have to contend with a rise in the weights, however if he puts in a big run there then he will have to be considered a very live Champion Hurdle contender.
Mille Chief is a live outsider for the 2011 Champion Hurdle
No comments:
Post a Comment