Cheltenham Market Movers 2011: Thursday

8.57 UPDATE: It’s St. Patrick’s Day today, but yesterday it was a celebration of Irish jumps racing, with six of the seven winners trained in Ireland. And they could be at it again today.

In the 1.30 Jewson Novices’ Chase, Irish trained Loosen My Load has come in for support into 7/1 from (8/1) and is still getting shorter.

Barafundle is being backed in the 2.05 Pertemps Final, into 9/1 from 11/1. In a field of 24 anything can be backed at 7/1 or greater, so it is still a wide open heat.

In the 2.40 Ryanair, the market is quiet with Poquelin 11/4 favourite but nothing is really being backed.

In the day’s big race, the 3.20 World Hurdle, the bookmakers are looking to get after the top two in the market. Big Buck’s is touching a shade odds against, with Betfred a standout 5/4. Grand Crus is also on the drift at 10/3 and may start even bigger. The one being backed is Mourad who is steady at 10/1.

10.31 UPDATE: The public are steaming into Big Buck’s but the bookmakers are holding firm. A flurry of bets on the Champion has seen his price shorten to evens but Betfred are still standing their 5/4.

In the 4.40 Kim Muir Challenge Cup, Junior is being well backed. A useful stayer on the flat, the David Pipe horse is 11/2 from 7/1.

It wouldn’t be a Festival without a Jonjo O’ Neill horse being gambled. That horse is Grand National winner Don’t Push It in the 2.05 Pertemps Final. Having opened at 33/1 he is no bigger than 25/1 with Bet365, with most firms going 22/1.

11.16 UPDATE: Trainer Gordon Elliott can do no wrong at the moment and punters are latching on to him in the 4.00 Byrne Group Plate. His charge, Beautiful Sound, is 7/1 with Hills, having been 12/1 with bet365 last night.

11.58 UPDATE: Boylesports have cracked first and made Big Buck’s odds on. Only BlueSq and Victor Chandler are going odds against with 11/10.

12.58 UPDATE: Noble Prince is being well backed to land the first race, he is in to 4/1 and would be a great start for the Irish.

As mentioned earlier the money keeps coming for Big Buck’s. Only Bet365 are odds against at 11/10. Grand Crus is on the drift and can be backed at 7/2.

13.36 UPDATE: Champion Jockey AP McCoy is finally on a winner as Noble Prince rallied up the hill to take the Jewsons. The heavily backed second favourite was a good result for the punters, especially for one of our readers James from Swindon, who tipped him in our Punter vs Pro feature.

15.10 UPDATE: We have only just managed to peel our National Hunt tipster off the ceiling after a thrilling win for Albertas Run in the Ryanair. He was tipped last week at 12/1 by Betting Bias.

In all the excitement it mustn’t be forgotten that in our punter v pro; James landed the third horse Rubi Light, each way at 25/1.

Big Buck’s is still trading on odd for the World Hurdle at 10/11 with Mourad at 8/1 the best backed of the outsiders.

15.40 UPDATE: An excellent World Hurdle and Big Buck’s confirms he is one of the great long distance hurdlers. No more debate on the matter. William Hill went 9/4 on him retaining his crown next year, but that disappeared in a nano-second and he is now 6/4.