Kauto Star was yesterday backed for his fifth attempt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup as dry weather forecasts suggested he would get his ideal good ground.
Kauto has been cut to best-price 6/1 (Victor Chandler) whilst his stablemate Denman has been pushed out half a point to best-price 13/2 (William Hill) as the ground continues to dry out at Prestbury Park.
The two-time Gold Cup winner, who was as big as 12/1 for the race after finishing third in the King George VI Chase in January, has been edging towards the top of the Gold Cup market ever since connections revealed he had been less than 100 per cent at Kempton.
And with the increasing chance conditions will suit him ideally come Friday, he is now on the cusp of usurping Long Run as second-favourite with some bookmakers.
Other moves in the Gold Cup market came for Kempes, now as short as 9/1 but still available at 12/1 with William Hill and What A Friend, whose price was cut to best-price 40/1 (from 50), also with William Hill.
The Morris Mouse-trained China Rock was also the subject of price changes with several bookmakers on the day his trainer said he was hopeful the eight-year-old would make the frame.
He said: "He has been fourth on his two previous appearances at Cheltenham, so we know that he acts round the track. He will be two stone better on a faster surface and realistically I am hoping that he can be placed."
China Rock was one of our Cheltenham Festival ante-post picks at 100/1 and is now available at best-price 33/1 with William Hill.
The major price news yesterday was that Alarazi's wide-margin victory in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown resulted in big cuts for the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle.
Victor Chandler offer best-price 8/1 (from 25) for the County Hurdle, which trainer Lucy Wadham said remained the preferred target.
With a maximum field of 28 in the County, it could be touch and go making the cut but a 5lb penalty makes Alarazi look well treated for one of the most competitive Festival handicaps.
For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment