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Hills bet less Guinness will be drunk at Festival

WILLIAM HILL reckon this year's Cheltenham Festival will witness fewer pints of Guinness drunk than last year.

The firm on Wednesday made 180,001 to 195,000 their 9-4 favourite. Last year the final total was 199,469.

Hills's spokesman Tony Kenny said: "The Guinness Village is normally heaving after an Irish winner, and we think there'll be plenty of Irish winners for the visitors totoast at this year's Festival."

Pints of Guinness sold at Festival (bet void if any of four days doesn't take place; last year = 199,469)

William Hill bet:
9-4 180,001-195,000; 11-4 210,001 or more; 3-1 195,001-210,000 and 165,001-180,000; 11-2 150,001-165,000; 8-1 150,000 or less

Starluck on mark in Champion Hurdle prep

STARLUCK warmed up for his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle bid in 13 days time with an impressive victory on the all-weather at Kempton on Wednesday evening.

The progressive hurdler, who won at Dundalk early in his career, returned the well-backed 7-2 joint-favourite after swooping late under a considerate Liam Keniry ride to get the better of Gaily Noble in the 1m Digibet Casino Handicap.

Totesport were impressed enough to shave Starluck's Champion Hurdle odds to 14-1 (from 16-1), although Victor Chandler saw no reason the change their 16-1 quote.

Trainer Alan Fleming said: "That's a bit more than I expected to be honest, so I'm very happy with that. He's shown his well being and he's had a good blow. Just one school now between now and Cheltenham, and away we go. Granted some good ground and we'll be getting excited."

Asked if he had any concerns about last year's JCB Triumph Hurdle fourth coming up the hill, he said: "We'll let the horse do the talking, but he's stronger this year and next year he'll be the finished article."

Irish fancies shorten for Cheltenham Festival

IRISH-trained horses were well backed for the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, with Uimhiraceathair in particular attracting support for his tilt at the RSA Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained winner of theGrade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase was a best-priced 20-1 at the start of play on Wednesday, but that price was quickly taken by punters.


Stan James went 14-1 from 20-1 for the RSA, while Boylesports and Paddy Power both opted for 16-1 from the same price.

No One Tells Me, a David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle chance from the Jessica Harrington yard, made a significant move in the market for that contest. Despite finishing just fifth in her last appearance, No One TellsMe was backed into 7-1 (from with Victor Chandler and 10-1 (from 14) with William Hill.

Dunguib also shortened with Stan James for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, hitting 4-6 favourtism (from 4-5).

The Package made a move into joint-favouritism (with Bensalem) for the William Hill Trophy on the same day as the announcement of the Festival handicap weights. Stan James go 6-1 (from and sponsors William Hill make him 7-1 (from .

Soldatino was well-backed for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with several firms, with the 10-1 being offered by Paddy Power the biggest jump from his former price of 16-1 with the Irish bookmaker.

Long Run moves in to RSA Chase favouritism

LONG RUN leapt to the head of the betting on the RSA Chase at Cheltenham with every British and Irish bookmaker on Friday after it was reported that previous favourite and stablemate Punchestowns had been discovered to be lame.

Undefeated in two British novice chase starts - the Grade 1 Feltham and Grade 2 Kingmaker - Long Run still retains an entry in the Irish Independent Arkle, but is almost certain to be aimed at the RSA Chase and has long been a strong second favourite for the race.

His Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Punchestowns topped the market until Henderson on Friday revealed the seven-year-old was lame with just 11 days until the Festival kicks off.

Most layers now rate Long Run a 5-2 favourite for the RSA Chase, from as short as 7-2 with Boylesports and Coral and as long as 9-2 with Victor Chandler.

Elsewhere in the RSA market, money came for Weird Al, who hit 8-1 from 10-1 with Boylesports, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power. Uimhiraceathair, who was subject to a mid-week gamble, was nibbled at further, hitting 12-1 (from 16) with Victor Chandler and Paddy Power.

The Tother One has been cut by Irish bookmakers for the William Hill Trophy. Boylesports cut the Paul Nicholls-trained candidate to 12-1 (from 16) while Paddy Power went 14-1 (from 16).

Coral Cup hope Noble Prince, third in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park last month, was cut to 10-1 withPaddy Power (from 12) and to 12-1 (from 14) with Betfred and Victor Chandler.

Lame Sublimity out of Champion Hurdle

SUBLIMITY, winner of the 2007 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, has been ruled out of this year's race with a leg injury.

Sublimity disappointed in last season's renewal, but had been "working better than ever" after a wind operation by vet Ben Brain this time around, finishing second to Go Native in the WBX.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle and two placings behind Solwhit at Leopardstown.

Those displays left the ten-year-old as short as 12-1 with Boylesports to become the first since Comedy Of Errors in 1975 to regain the Champion Hurdle crown and trainer Robbie Hennessy had been delighted with his final seriousgallop at Leopardstown last Sunday.


However, after a routine canter earlier this week Sublimity took "the first lame step of his life" and a vet examination confirmed Hennessy's fears.



"He was scanned yesterday and it shows a bang to his near fore

Cheltenham to start watering on Monday

CHELTENHAM will start to water the track on Monday, according to clerk of the course Simon Claisse, a day earlier than expected.

With dry weather expected in the run-up to the festival, Claisse is keen to ensure the Prestbury turf does not dry out and will, as in previous years, water to maintain the current good to soft ground.

Claisse said on Sunday: "We're going to start watering tomorrow if the weather allows it. We expectit to hit -6C overnight and we can't water until the frost comes out the ground."

Blue Square reacted to the news by cutting the price on good to soft being the official going on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival from 1-3 to 1-7. Good ground is now 4-1, while soft is now 20-1.

Solwhit scope shakes up Champion market
By Jessica Lamb 5:14PM 8 MAR 2010

GO NATIVE on Monday hardened into 3-1 clear favouritism for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle as trainer Charles Byrnes issued a warning that fellow market leader Solwhit could miss the Cheltenham Festival race.

Solwhit reportedly scoped badly and has been put on a course of antibiotics, which puts his participation in doubt and has pushed his odds out from as short as 7-2 favourite to 5-1 across the boards.

Ladbrokes, who have clipped Go Native into 7-2, was one of three firms to quote Go Native and Solwhit as 4-1 joint favourites before Byrnes' news and spokesman David Williams said: "Solwhit has been friendless and all the horses around him have all been backed with Go Native beginning to tighten his grip at the head of the Champion Hurdle market.

"Solwhit's downbeat report combined with the dry weather could scarcely have come at a worse time."

Only William Hill join Ladbrokes at 7-2, while Totesport and Stan James have cut the Noel Meade-trained hope into 11-4 (from 100-30 and 7-2 respectively).

Further down the list, Zaynar is now as short as 13-2 from a best price of 8-1, Medermit has been clipped to a general 7-1 shot (from 8-1) and Starluck is into 12-1 from a high of 16-1 with all firms bar Victor Chandler and Coral. They go 14-1 and 10-1 respectively.

Restless Harry destined for Albert Bartlett bid

RESTLESS HARRY has been confirmed an intended runner in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle after trainer Robin Dickin made a final decision on his stable star's Cheltenham target.

An impressive Grade 2 victory on Cheltenham's Festival Trials card thrust Restless Harry towards the head of the market for both the Albert Bartlett and the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, but Dickin, as expected, has come downin favour of the 3m contest and will not confirm the Neptune entry at Thursday's six-day entry stage.

Dickin, whose Challow Hurdle second is no bigger than 7-1 second favourite for the Albert Bartlett, said: "We will be going for the Albert Bartlett. Had it looked as though the ground was going to ride heavy we might have considered the Neptune, but in all probability, we would have gone for the Albert Bartlett anyway.

"He's in lovely, lovely form and I'm just hoping that's how things remain."

Fallon has pulled out of riding in the Bumper..

Sam Thomas a festival doubt after gallops fall

SAM THOMAS'S participation at next week's Cheltenham Festival hangs in the balance after he was airlifted to hospital early on Thursday morning following a bad fall when schooling on Paul Nicholls' gallops.

Thomas, riding Nicholls' Arkle hope Woolcombe Folly in a schooling session with Chapoturgeon, who was partnered by Tony McCoy, fell heavily at thelast of six fences.

The trainer immediately summoned an air ambulance, which landed on the grass schooling gallop above Ditcheat village ten minutes later. It took almost half an hour to stabilise the jockey, who never lost consciousness, before he could be rushed to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Initial x-rays have shown that Thomas has not broken any bones, but further tests are being carried out.

Tom George, to whom Thomas is stable jockey, said: "I have spoken to Sam's girlfriend, who has talked to him, and the initial x-rays are encouraging, but obviously they have to do further tests.

"Sam is moving his feet and his hands, and is talking. He is obviously very sore, but the first round of tests have found nothing broken, although more tests have to be carried out."

A hospital spokeswoman said: "Sam Thomas is conscious and able to talk. He has had a number of x-rays and is currently awaiting a CT scan and other diagnostic tests."

Thomas is due to ride Tell Massini in either the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle or the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, and Tricky Trickster in the Totesport Gold Cup.

Master Minded heads 14 left in Champion Chase


MASTER MINDED headed the 14 horses who stood their ground for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on March 17, following Thursday's forfeit stage.

The Paul Nicholls-trained chaser will be attempting to emulate Badsworth Boy in winning three runnings of the Seasons Holidays-sponsored Grade 1.

There were no surprise defectors at the head of the market with the ante-post favourite joined by stablemates Twist Magic and Free World.

Kalahari King, Big Zeb and Forpadydeplasterer remain on course for the 2m championship.

Findlay plays down Denman Gold Cup claim

HARRY FINDLAY was playing down Denman's chances of success over Kauto Star in next week's Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Thursday, as he admitted it would take a "phenomenal performance" by his horse to dethrone the champion next Friday.

In stark contrast to two years ago when he predicted the horse he co-owns with Paul Barber would "crush" his rival at the Cheltenham Festival, Findlay said he would be satisfied with second place this time round.

"I think it is going to take a phenomenal performance to beat Kauto Star," he said at a London lunch to publicise the Gold Cup clash.

Tony McCoy and Denman were reunited on Thursday morning for the first time since they parted company in the Aon Chase at Newbury last month. The jockey put the ten-year-old over six obstacles - two hurdles, two schooling fences and two proper fences.

Findlay added: "I think he is trained so much for this minute. On the good ground Kauto Star is going to be so hard to beat, that's why to even think you have a chance of doing it is a buzz.

"I'm gutted he didn't win at Newbury so we could have a real match and I would like to have had the confidence to really fancy the job, but three years down the line we are still here, first and second favourite, so we'll take that."

Kauto Star's owner, Clive Smith, gave a glowing bulletin on his horse while still having respect for Denman.

Smith said: "I have been informed that he is just sparkling at the moment on the gallops and Paul and Clifford Baker could not be more pleased with him. I believe Denman's mishap at Newbury is in the past and Paul will have him spot-on on the day and I also think Tony McCoy will be great on the day so we have some serious opposition.

"As long as Kauto just gets over the first couple of fences and gets into a rhythm he does look very impressive. I can never say I'm not worried about him but I have a lot of confidence in him."