Cheltenham Festival: Ground to favour Samcro and Lostintranslation?
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The wait is almost over! The 2020 Cheltenham Festival is only days awayand the latest odds on the ground conditions have swayed the prices in some ofthe biggest races of the Festival.
Good toSoft on the opening day of the Festival is now even money from 13/8, whileSoft has drifted out to even money from 4/6. Heavy is now 8/1, havingbeen 7/2.
It is unlikely to be Good Ground though at 50/1.
Both punters and spectators can expect intermittent showers through theweek, turning mild as the Festival progresses. So, what does this mean for someof the races ahead?
Marsh Novices’ Chase
Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival is St Patrick’s Day and is aparticularly interesting race card with the market regularly changing.
Following the latest update in the ground conditions, Samcro hasattracted further support for the Marsh Novices’ Chase and is now 6/1from 7/1.
The 2018 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Champion was well backed following apromising start to this season at Down Royal but has since had an indifferentcampaign. Samcro missed last season’s Festival through injury, could theeight-year-old make a winning return to Cheltenham in 2020?
Allahois the favourite at 7/2 along with Itchy Feet at 9/2. MisterFisher is 6/1 despite his winning performance at Cheltenham last year andwith course form and high-class hurdling form to his name he remains goodvalue.
Gold Cup
This is the climax of The Cheltenham Festival on Friday 13th March. Lastyear, Willie Mullins claimed his first Cheltenham Gold Cup and is favourite todo so again this time round. But could Colin Tizzard claim Gold Cup glory?
Given the indifferent weather conditions, the Tizzard hopeful,LOSTINTRANSLATION is the latest runner getting attention in the market andis now 6/1from 13/2.
AlBoum Photo is 10/3 favourite to retain the Gold Cup title for WillieMullins. He beat Acapella Bourgeois at Tramore on New Year’s Day, he’s in greatform ahead of the 2020 Gold Cup.
If anyone is to topple Al Boum Photo, Santini is among thefavourites at 7/2 with Delta Work at 9/2 and Presenting Percyfurther back at 8/1.
Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady said: “Initially we thought the going on dayone would be soft, but the weather is pointing towards better ground and Goodto Soft has gone joint-favourite.
Samcro remains one of the biggest liabilities for us heading into thefestival and judging by the support, punters believe he can show the class hedisplayed as a hurdler following another wind op.”
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
