Bobs Worth proved star of the show at Cheltenham on Saturday in the Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle Trial, however it has been the second-placed Rock On Ruby who has been the subject of support with William Hill and is now 8-1 from 10-1.

Cheltenham Festival Betting

The five-timer bid was put to an end, when Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old made a mistake two-out before hanging left out of contention after the last and leaving the path clear for Bobs Worth to claim the Grade 2 honours.

The winning Henderson inmate was aided by the rail, and had the runner-up kept to a truer line, the conclusion may have been different.

Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, said, ‘The margin of victory would have been significantly decreased had Rock On Ruby not hung after the final flight, and having been trimmed into 8-1 from 10s following overnight support, clearly some punters anticipate a closer finish in March’.

Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle: 5-1 Bobs Worth, 6-1 Zaidpour, 8-1 Cue Card, Rock On Ruby, 10-1 Backspin, Minella Class, So Young, 12-1 Bobs Worth, Court In Motion, 14-1Chablais, Dunraven Storm, First Lieutenant, 16-1 Last Instalment, 20-1 Al Ferof, Frawley, Hidden Cyclone, Megastar, Oscars Well, 25-1 Bishopsfurze, Champion Court, Jetnova, Shot from the Hip, 33-1 Fully Funded (E/W 1/4 1,2,3)

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary

Head of PR Charlie McCann: “The defeat of Dunguib last year showed it is sometimes best not to get too carrried away with wide margin novice successes, but Cue Card looked an absolute machine at Aintree and he won with his head in his chest despite pulling throughout the 2m 4f trip. Whatever race he ends up in next March he must take the beating unless connections decide to go for the Champion which seems unlikely at this stage.”

1st 7 Cue Card 1-2 F
2nd 8 Dear Sam (GER) 10-1
3rd 2 Mr Moonshine (IRE) 16-1

Supreme Novices Hurdle 2011 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

6 Cue Card (from 10s)
12 Hidden Universe
16 Casual Conquest
16 Dare Me
20 Sprinter Sacre
20 Shot From The H’
25 Bar

Neptune Novices Hurdle ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

5 Cue Card (from 10s)
10 Al Ferof
12 Silviniaco Conti
14 Last Instalment
16 Dare Me
16 Hidden Universe
20 Bar

Stan James Champion Hurdle 2011 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

3 Binocular
5 Hurricane Fly
14 Khyber Kim
16 Solwhit
16 Get Me Out Of Here
16 Peddlers Cross
16 Menorah
20 Bar including 33s Cue Card (unchanged)

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary

The former Champion Hurdle runner-up, sent off at 1-4 favourite, was travelling nicely alongside Rougham when he made a hash of the fourth-last and fell, while Rougham bizarrely fell independently at the same obstacle.

This suddenly brought Diamond Brook (9-1) and Jocheski back into proceedings from a long way back, with the former getting home in front by a head.

Celestial Halo’s jockey Ruby Walsh said: “He was jumping super before that, but he just got on top of it. It’s better he did it then than in the Arkle.”

Nicholls said: “It’s not ideal, obviously, and it’s back to the drawing board now, but plenty of horses have fallen on their debuts.

“He had jumped beautifully up to then – he just stepped at it and that was one of his traits over hurdles.

“It might be that he won’t take to fences, but he’ll have another school and we’ll have a talk with Andy (Stewart, owner) and see what we want to do.

“We could always go back to hurdles if we want to. It’s always been at the back of my mind that he is by Galileo and is Flat-bred.”

Johnson, riding Rougham, added: “The other horse had nothing to do with his fall. I’d imagine he had more left than me, but mine jumped very well before that.”

Stan James cut impressive Exeter winner Dare Me from 25s to 16/1 for both the Supreme Novices’ and Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.

Head of PR Charlie McCann: ” With Cue Card entered at Aintree at the weekend the novice division is beginning to take shape and Dare Me put down a very good mark at Exeter this afternoon and we cut the horse from 25s to 16s. He has 18l to make up on Cue Card on Festival Bumper running but he looked as if he could be a different proposition with 8 flights of hurdles to jump.”

Supreme Novices Hurdle 2011 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

8 Cue Card
12 Hidden Universe
16 Casual Conquest
16 Clerk’s Choice
16 Dare Me (from 25s)
20 Sprinter Sacre
25 Elegant Concorde
25 Backspin
25 The Real Article
25 Kid Cassidy
25 Megastar
25 Karasenir
25 Dunraven Storm
33 Bar

Neptune Novices Hurdle ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

10 Al Ferof
10 Cue Card
14 Last Instalment
16 Dare Me (from 25s)
16 Hidden Universe
20 Frawley
25 Chablais
25 King Of Wands
25 Minella Class
25 Megastar
25 Dunraven Storm
25 Viking Visitor
25 The Real Article
25 Zaidpour
25 Bishopsfurze
25 Go All The Way
25 Rangitoto
33 Bar

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary

This is a very difficult race to solve in my view. The prize went to ireland last season with the well backed Mikael D’haguenet, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh winning.

The betting has another Irish runner at its summit, Dermot Weld’s Rite of Passage, who I am going to take on. I don’t think he has competed at a level high enough to justify such a short price. I am more than happy to have the field against him here at the current prices. Rite of Passage is a lay for me.

Ten of the last eleven runners finished first or second last time out, so an inform performer holds sway here. The one I really like here is Peddlers Cross who at the 8/1 quoted on Monday is my bet here. At Haydock last time he won a grade 2 race in some style indicating that he could be a very decent sort. I have backed Peddlers Cross each-way and think I will get a good run for my money here.

Finians Rainbow is one I made a note of last time out having backed him at Ascot but I will stick with Peddlers Cross.


Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle Betting Advice;

• Rite Of Passage- Lay
• Peddlers Cross- Each-way

get a £25 free bet;

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary

Neptune Novices Hurdle 2010 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

5-2 Rite Of Passage
7 Finian’s Rainbow (from 10s)
10 Quel Esprit
10 Reve De Sivola
12 Peddlers Cross
14 Quantitativeeasing
16 Ghizao
16 Get Me Out Of Here
16 Restless Harry
16 Coole River
20 Bar

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary

Cheltenham The Home of Jumps Racing

Head of PR Charlie McCann: “Donald McCain’s unbeaten 5-y-o was also introduced into the Supreme Novices’ betting at 20/1 and if the ground were to be soft or worse he may even give the mighty Dunguib something to think about if connections decide to remain over 2m. We believe he is more likely to be step up in trip for his Festival target. ”

Neptune Novices Hurdle 2010 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

8 Quel Esprit
8 Quantitativeeasing
10 Royal Charm
12 Rite Of Passage
12 Peddlers Cross (1st show)
14 Finians Rainbow
16 Reve De Sivola
16 Shinrock Paddy
16 General Miller
16 Ghizao
16 Tell Massini
20 Bar
Donald McCain’s Peddlers Cross maintained his unbeaten record with a breathtaking display in the sportingbet.com Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Following impressive wins in a bumper at this venue and on his hurdling debut at Bangor, the five-year-old put his three rivals to the sword in this Grade Two contest and the result was scarcely in doubt.

Sent straight to the head of affairs by Jason Maguire, he jumped faultlessly throughout and stretched away from his toiling rivals in the straight to pass the post 16 lengths ahead of Scriptwriter.

“God that was impressive wasn’t it?” said a delighted McCain.

“I’ve always thought a lot of this horse but I didn’t come here expecting a performance like that and Jason was very impressed.

“We didn’t really want to make the running as he can be a bit keen but in fairness he settled nicely and has done it so well.

“You’d like to think he’d be good enough for Cheltenham now but he is an ex point-to-pointer and we are still learning about him.

“I’d imagine he’ll have an entry in the Supreme and the two-and-a-half-miler and we’ll get home and decide what to do between now and then.

“I was actually thinking he’d need to step up in trip but after that, I’m not so sure now.”

Sky Bet make Peddlers Cross a 16-1 chance for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and 16-1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle over the added distance.

It was an extra special success for the trainer as he was registering his 50th success of the campaign.

“It’s great and it’s credit to everyone in the yard who has been working really hard,” McCain added.

Paul Nicholls Advisor won at Ascot and is quoted at 14/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

Quoted at 14/1 with Stan James for the Triumph Hurdle.

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary