Aintree Market Movers 2011: Day 1

The Aintree festival kicks off today, but it is not all about the Grand National, there is plenty of high quality jumps racing before that.

Big Buck’s is first up, going for his third Liverpool Hurdle at 2.00 as he re-opposes Grand Crus in a remake of their fabulous World Hurdle race. At 4/6, Big Buck’s is only slightly shorter that he was at Cheltenham and should confirm the form if at his best.

In the 2.30 Juvenile Hurdle, Zarkandar is trying to build on the big impression he created when winning the Triumph Hurdle. Only having his third run, the worry is that Cheltenham effort could have left a mark. Coral are happy to take him on and are going a standout evens. Grandouet is his nearest rival at 7/2 and needs to turn around five lengths based on their Cheltenham form.

Gold Cup runner up, Denman, lines up for the Totesport Bowl at 3.05. This is a race that has not been kind to him in the past - he fell in 2009. Paul Nicholls says Denman has come out of his last race bouncing though and the recent rain will have played to his strengths. Coral go 11/8 that he adds another Grade 1 to his illustrious career. Of his rivals, Punchestowns at 6/1 has a chance of letting his talent do the talking. A moderate season meant he missed Cheltenham but this flat track could play to his strengths and he arrives fresher than most.

Coming only three weeks after the festival, it is hard to assess how much those races took out of the horses. Paul Nicholls saddles the favourite in the first three Grade One races and it is a 7/1 chance that they all win.

UPDATE 9.09: Beggars Cup is the best backed horse of the day in the 4.15 Red Rum Chase. A 25/1 chance at the start he is only 12/1 with Boylesports. In the Grade Ones Coral are taking on Paul Nicholls, they go an industry wide best price on all three of the favourites.

UPDATE 10.16: Sports Line is a mover in the 4.15 at Aintree. Put up by At the Races tipster Hugh Taylor at 14/1, only Skybet are holding the price but not for much longer.

UPDATE 11.15. The money is coming for the Nicholls duo. Big Buck’s cut to 8/13 by Paddypower, bits of 4/6 still available. Zarkandar is also popular but the bookmakers are happy to lay it at even money. Kumbeshwar the main opposition at 10/1, in from 14s.

UPDATE 12.18: Big Buck’s is still being backed with only William Hill holding the 4/6, that surely won’t last much longer. Money also coming for Zarkandar with only Victor Chandler and Blue Square left laying evens.

UPDATE 12.50: Even money gone, Zarkandar is now a best price 10/11. In the 3.05 Totesport Bowl there is interest for Punchestowns who is now a best price 11/2 from 6/1.

UPDATE 15:19: Denman was never travelling and trailed in fifth in the feature race, the Totesport Bowl, won by Nacarat. After wins for Big Buck’s and Zarkandar, Paul Nicholls was unable to land the hat trick of Grade Ones.

After a comfortable win in the Liverpool Hurdle, Big Buck’s has been cut to 5/4 from 13/8 to win next year’s World Hurdle. Runner-up Grands Crus is 7/1 to turn around the form.

Bookmakers are unsure what to make of Zarkandar’s battling win. Betfred and Bet365 saw fit to cut him for next year’s Champion Hurdle, but in such a hot division Paddypower have pushed out the unbeaten four year old to 16/1.