Road to Cheltenham: Bang! Ok Corral’s odds shot down again
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The countdown is on until the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, with less than two months to go until the famous roar greets the runners in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
A busy weekend in the UK and Ireland has produced a market mover for that contest, plus four others, including Glen Forsa, who hasn’t even had a run since Boxing Day.
We’ve rounded it all up in this week’s Road to Cheltenham.
Top Notch – Ryanair Chase – 12/1 from 20/1
Punters who took heed of our Friday tips column would’ve enjoyed a Top Notch start to Saturday’s action, as Nicky Henderson’s charge powered home by 5l at Kempton.
The eight-year-old not only has a cracking record at the Festival. He’s also as game as they come and regularly puts in rock solid performances in Graded company.
Our traders go 12/1 about him landing the Ryanair, a price which is likely to shorten if potential rivals target other races. Charbel, on the other hand, has been eased out to 20/1 from 12s.
Ok Corral – National Hunt Chase – 4/1 from 10/1
Favourite backers beware. No jolly has won the National Hunt Chase since 2013 when Back In Focus landed the prize for Willie Mullins. So what do we make of market leader Ok Corral?
Well, it was hard not to be impressed by Nicky Henderson’s charge as he shot down three rivals to maintain his 100% record over fences in the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick.
Derek O’Connor’s booking at the weekend suggests the four-miler is the aim for the nine-year-old, whose closest rival in the betting is 10/1 chance Delta Work.
Carlo Biraghi – Triumph Hurdle – 16/1
Contrary to popular belief, Carlo Biraghi isn’t a nomadic Italian full-back at AC Milan. No – Fozzy Stack’s four-year-old is a very real contender for this year’s Triumph Hurdle.
The former Irish Derby contender produced a taking performance on debut over hurdles, and with a bit more experienced under his belt, could shorten even further for the Triumph in March.
Felix Desjy – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 20/1 from 33/1
Recent Moscow Flyer winners have a decent record in the Supreme. Vautour and Douvan won both, while Min finished runner-up in the latter behind the awesome Altior.
Will Felix Desjy follow the trio in hitting the frame at Prestbury Park? If Sunday’s commanding win at Punchestown is anything to go by, he has every chance for Gordon Elliott.
Another positive performance from the six-year-old at the Dublin Racing Festival will see his price cut again, moving him closer to principals Angels Breath and Aramon.
Glen Forsa – Close Brothers’ Novices’ Handicap Chase – 10/1 from 14/1
We love a bit a franked form here at Ladbrokes News. And Glen Forsa’s tough-as-teak Boxing Day success over Glen Rocco now looks even better after the runner-up’s win at the weekend.
Nick Gifford’s charge made the step up to 3m with aplomb to win by 23l over Bally Longford in a race which had repercussions for Glen Forsa in the Close Brothers’ Novices’ Handicap Chase.
His Boxing Day form now looks even better, and it means his odds for the 2m 4f contest have been cut yet again – this time to just 10/1.
Click here for all our 2019 Cheltenham Festival odds.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
