Cheltenham Festival Day Two betting preview 11/03/15

After Annie Power’s astonishing fall when clear at the last in the Mare’s Hurdle yesterday, many punters will be hoping to win back some of the money that got away on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Here we take a look at where the money is going at Spreadex ahead of another big day of racing.

1.30pm – Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle
Willie Mullins had an incredible first day yesterday and his dominance looks set to continue in the first race of Day Two with Nichols Canyon at 7/2 and Outlander at 4/1 leading the betting.

Ruby Walsh, unseated dramatically on Annie Power yesterday, suffered a similar fate on Nichols Canyon over Christmas, however the five-year-old has bagged two Grade 1s this season.

Victory for Outlander in a strong Grade 2 at Leapordstown in January led to the seven-year-old being put up for the Neptune instead of the Albert Bartlett at the festival but a sixth place finish at the Grade 1 Punchestown Festival Bumper has led to some punters having doubts.

Away from these two, at Spreadex we’ve had some interest in Windsor Park at 9/2 despite the six-year-old having been beaten by both Nichols Canyon and Outlander recently. We’ve also had a fair few each-way takers of Odo Ab Chao at 12/1

2.05pm – RSA Chase
Yet another Willie Mullins runner leads the way in the second race of the day and at Spreadex we’ve had strong, strong support of Don Poli, being backed in from 2/1 to 13/8 and with some takers of even money on our top two insurance betting (money back if it finishes second).

The six-year-old won the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last year and has looked impressive since, so much so that some are tipping it up as a future Gold Cup winner.

There hasn’t been a lot of money going elsewhere on this race although we have seen some punts on Kings Palace on our place only (10/11 to finish in top three) and betting without Don Poli markets (3/1 to win without Don Poli).

2.40pm – Coral Cup
In one of the largest fields at the festival (26 runners), this one looks reasonably open with Activial and Aux P’tits Soins leading the betting, both at 9/1.

Spreadex clients have so far been favouring the latter, trained by Paul Nicholls and who carries Sam Twiston-Davies on board.

Spreadex clients have been spreading their money around the runners, with Volney De Thaix at 18/1 and Un Atout at 14/1 both getting some action on the winner and each-way front.

With each-way bets paying out ¼ of the odds on the first five, other runners to have seen some nibbles include Baradari at 14/1 and Daneking at 22/1.

3.20pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
The once indomitable Sprinter Sacre may not be the horse he once was and all eyes will be on how the Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old will fare after well documented heart problems.

After a long lay-off Sprinter Sacre finished second to Dodging Bullets at Ascot in May, leading many punters to believe victory in today’s feature race is still possible.

However, Spreadex clients don’t seem 100% convinced and as of Wednesday morning there had been more favouring Sire De Grugy to follow up his comfortable victory in the same race at the festival last year.

Dodging Bullets and Mr Mole were both attracting more each-way backers than outright win punts.

4pm – Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country)
Duke of Lucca, fourth behind eventual winner and stablemate Balthazar King in last year’s race at the festival, leads the betting in this 16-runner field at 11/2 but Spreadex clients have been lukewarm in their support.

Spreadex offers sports and financial betting from one account, and clients seem to have perhaps had this fact in mind with money coming in for two financial-market themed horses in Any Currency and Quantitativeeasing. Toutancarmont at 13/2 has also been seeing some bets.

4.40pm – Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Another Day Two race which seems relatively open with Arabian Revolution and Hostile Fire leading the way at 9/1.

Spreadex clients seem more taken with Paul Nicholls-trained All Yours at 11/1, Golden Doyen at 16/1 and Gwencily Berbas, also at 16/1.

Golden Doyen and Gwencily Berbas in fact lead the betting in our Place Only markets both at 10/3 to finish in the top 4.

5.15pm – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Day Two ends with another large field again giving punters the enticing prospect of signing off with a potential big price winner.

Spreadex clients have been putting some reasonable-sized punts on Willie Mullins’ Stone Hard at 12/1, Wait For Me at 9/1 and General Principle at 12/1.

David Pipe’s Irish recruit Moon Racer has been talked up in plenty of quarters, however this seems to be attracting more each-way and place only action, where it is priced at 7/4 to finish in the top three.



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