NOVICES READY TO RUMBLE? WILLIAM HILL OPEN BETTING ON CHELTENHAM CHAMPIONSHIPS!
After dominating the the novice hurdling division last season, Willie Mullins’s charge Mikael D’Haguenet now leads the betting for the novice chase division in the season ahead.
Jumping kicks off in ernest
William Hill made the five-year-old their 6/1 clear favourite for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, ranking ahead of 10/1 second-favourite Punchestowns who transfers to the bigger obstacles following his second in the World Hurdle back in March. The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old is amongst a number of British fancies rising to a new challenge with Pride of Dulcote (16-1), Diamond Harry (20-1), and Bensalem (16-1), three others looking to fulfill their destiny as staying chasers.
Crack Away Jack joins Mikael D’Hauguenet as the 10-1 joint-favourite for the two-mile Arkle chase, but will face fierce competition in the form of Paul Nicholls’s Tataniano (14-1), crack hurdler Osana (16-1), and Sizing Europe and Cousin Vinny (20-1), all joining the two-mile novice chase bracket.
Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’After commanding performances at both Cheltenham and Punchestown it was an easy choice to make Mikael D’Haguenet the lead choice for this season’s Novice Chasers, but we have no doubt this is one of the hottest divisions for some time. Both the two-mile and staying classes field horses who have had ‘chaser’ stamped over them since beginning their careers, and it is clear racing fans will be in for some fireworks this season.’’
RSA Chase: 6-1 Mikael D’Haguenet, 10-1 Punchestowns, 16-1 Bensalem, Fiveforthree, Long Run, 20-1 Apt Approach, Diamond Harry, Pandorama, Venalmar, Weapons Amnesty, 25-1 Alfie Sherrin Others Available (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
Arkle Challenge Trophy: 10-1 Crack Away Jack, Mikael D’Haguenet, 14-1 Tataniano, 16-1 Osana, 20-1 Ashkazar, Cousin Vinny, Jered, Medermit, Muirhead, Sizing Europe, Snap Tie, Somersby, 25-1 Kangaroo Court, 33-1 Kempes (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
