Cheltenham Festival: Voler La Vedette new favourite for Mares’ Hurdle

Thomas — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:50:47 +0000

The Bookies Blog team have already decided that Dunguib will canter home in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but should that bet land us in trouble, which of the two fancied mares should we rely on to dig us of our financial hole?

Bookmakers took action today to cut Voler La Vedette‘s odds into 7/4, which means she is now the new market leader to win the third running of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The latest market move must also be put down to Quevega‘s weakness; I’m surprised to see bookmakers such as Sporting Bet offering 2/1 about last years winner recording a repeat success over the 2m4f.

The race looks between the pair of Irish raiders in my eyes. In 2008 the Irish sent over Sweet Kiln, who was a bitterly disappointing favourite, but this year they send over the first 3 in the betting.

Whiteoak was just a novice when winning this race at 20/1 in 2008, but she has since been retired to the paddocks.

7/4 Voler La Vedette

I’m already financially down on Voler La Vedette, before she has even set foot at Prestbury Park. I backed her each-way at 33/1 to romp home in a hurdles race on the opening day of the Festival. Unfortunately, it was for the Champion Hurdle, over a shorter trip that would’ve suited her better…

When Colm Murphy clarified the running plans atfer a February setback, I checked out her odds for this Mares race. 4/1.

She won 4 of her 5 starts as a novice, and then beat a below-par Go Native at the start of the 2009/10 season. Go Native wasn’t right on that day, so we shouldn’t read too much into that Down Royal success. She then swerved a clash with the smart Solwhit at Leopardstown, where she was tried over the 2m4f trip against inferior mares. She looked lazy when she hit the front, but she still managed to land the odds.

To me she has questionable stamina – but connections have every reason to have a crack at Quevega, who could be rusty after almost a year off.

Over 2m against Quevega, she’d be my idea of a banker.

2/1 Quevega

Quevega was heavily backed for last year’s Mares Hurdle, and she galloped away from United by 14 lengths to justify 2/1 favouritism. She hasn’t been seen since picking up an injury at Auteuil, but there haven’t been any negative comments from the Willie Mullins camp so far. She hasn’t had a prep run, but I wouldn’t be too concerned about that in such a weak race. Voler La Vedette has question marks over the trip, and I know that Quevega’s jockey Ruby Walsh is one to be trusted with my Cheltenham bankroll.

For me, Quevega should employ front-running tactics and make sure this race is a test of stamina. Not a stroll around Prestbruy Park.

She has a brilliant hurdling technique, and was only beaten 3 lengths by Solwhit and Punjabi at Punchestown last year. Those two horses are both at the head of this year’s Champion Hurdle market.

I have backed her at shameful odds of 11/8 and will step in again if she touches 5/2.

Voler La Vedette is a tempting place lay on Betfair.

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Betting Odds

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Festival: 2010 Supreme Novices Hurdle Betting Preview

trispot — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:25:02 +0000

The first race of next week’s Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, will determine the fortunes of many punters, especially those travelling across the Irish Sea. Dunguib is the horse in question, and is the first so-called ‘banker’ to run. Combined odds of 6/1 about Dunguib, Big Bucks, Master Minded and Kauto Star all winning will tempt many – but will punters still be sitting pretty after the Supreme Novices’ – run over 2m110y?

9/10 Dunguib

Dunguib is undoubtedly the latest National Hunt superstar and he has won 7 out of his 9 races impressively. The most telling of which was last year’s Champion Bumper win at the Festival:

His jumping over obstacles has been atrocious though, and many pundits think that it will cost him the race. Those having large bets on this odds-on favourite will hope that his engine ensures that he trounces a weak looking field.

Last year’s favourite in this race, Cousin Vinny, was beaten at odds of 9/4. Another negative, is that Dunguib’s regular jockey, Brian O’Connell, has never ridden the Cheltenham hurdles course before.

7/1 Get Me Out Of Here

Get Me Out Of Here looks the natural each-way choice in this field. The JP McManus-owned gelding has a progressive profile with form that reads nicely: 11111. The last ’1′ being the Totesport Trophy Handicap at Newbury, which was hotly contested by some useful types.

AP McCoy rides for boss Jonjo O’Neill, and the Champion jockey would love to have a winner before taking the Gold Cup ride on 4/1 Denman on Friday 19th.

12/1 Blackstairmountain

Ruby Walsh takes this ride, the first of many next week. Willie Mullins looks to have a formidable team one again for this year’s Festival, but Blackstairmountain only has a maiden hurdle victory at Punchestown to his name. Such inexperience is a concern in this frantic race.

12/1 Menorah

Menorah is the 15/8 second favourite in the ‘Best of British’ market, contested by Oscar Whisky and Get Me Out Of Here. A slow pace was blamed for his recent odds-on Ascot defeat, but I’d want my cash to be carried by a last time out winner. Richard Johnson is amongst the best jockeys around Cheltenham, but he is yet to win this curtain-raiser.

20/1 Oscar Whisky

Yet another Irish bred gelding in the race, and another one that is unbeaten over hurdles. What to make of his wins though? They have all come at short odds in weak-looking races.

That said, jockey Barry Geraghty is a plus and Nicky Henderson is the leading Festival trainer.

20/1 Dan Breen

Has been backed into 20s from 33/1 last week. His Doncaster win could perhaps be a good bit of form, as the second placed Tanto Faz went on to win a race at Stratford. I can’t get too excited and I’d still rather back the machine that is Dunguib!