Cheltenham Market Movers 2012: Friday

8.30 UPDATE: Welcome to the final day of the Cheltenham Festival - Gold Cup day.

The biggest market news is that Gold Cup sponsors Betfred go a standout 9/4 Long Run and 9/2 Kauto Star until 9am.

8.41: William Hill have come to the party and are also offering 9/4 Long Run and 9/2 Kauto Star.

9.15: One of the early market movers is Olofi in the County Hurdle at 2.05. Highlighted by our racing tipster last night at 14/1, he is a best price 10/1 with Bet365.

9.17: Stan James are going best or joint best price on every runner in the Gold Cup. The press release doesn’t say how long for, but a good effort nonetheless.

9.41: Later on the card Grandads Horse is being well backed in the Martin Pipe at 4.40. No bigger than 16/1 (William Hill) having been 28/1 yesterday.

10.18: A couple of movers in the last race of the day, the Grand Annual at 5.15. Slieveardagh is 11/1 from 16s and Lucky William 16/1 from 22/1, both best price with William Hill.

10.45: The 9/4 on Long Run for the Gold Cup (3.20) has gone; the bookmakers are showing 2/1 (Bet365). Synchronised is the other horse being backed, into 10/1 (Bet365) from 14/1.

11.30: Betting markets show no sentiment with Burton Port, Synchronised and Diamond Harry all backed for the Gold Cup.

11.50: There are twenty runners in the Albert Bartlett (2.40) and Boston Bob is the hot favourite to beat them all. Only bodog and Blue Square are showing 11/8, with 5/4 generally.

12.15: Stan James and Sportingbet are going 5/1 Kauto Star.

12.30: Balder Success (8/1 with Bet365) is the one market mover in what looks an open Triumph Hurdle at 1.30

13.07: Less than 30 minutes until the first race and Balder Success is the springer in the market, now 15/2 with BetVictor.

13.40: Countrywide Flame sets fire to a few betting slips as he wins the Triumph at 33/1. The favourite Grumeti looked a big danger but put in some untidy jumping before tiring into third place.

13.45: The three at the top of the market have all been well backed for the County Hurdle. Citizenship, Olofi and Raya Star all shorter than this morning.

13.55: Citizenship now 5/1 (William Hill) for the County Hurdle at 2.05, in from a high of 8/1.

14.17: AP McCoy is finally on the board, Alderwood survives some scrimmaging to run out the winner of the County Hurdle at 20/1.

14.20 Boston Bob looks an exciting prospect and is the 5/4 (Bet365) favourite for the Albert Bartlett at 2.40. Not a huge amount of opposition to him in the market.

14.53: A good looking renewal of the Albert Bartlett, Brindisi Breeze toughs it out to hold off the hot favourite Boston Bob.

14.55: Buton Port, Synchronised and Diamond Harry were movers in the morning but you’d expect Long Run and Kauto Star to shorten before the off at 3.20.

15.05: Kauto Star is shortening up, now 4/1 with William Hill.

15.35: AP McCoy gives Synchronised a fantastic ride to win the Gold Cup, with The Giant Bolster second, and Long Run in third. Kauto Star was pulled up early on. Paul Nicholls reports on his twitter feed that Kauto Star is fine.

15.50: There are still three races left at Cheltenham so before we sign off here are the main market movers:

4.00 – Merchant Royal 9/1 (William Hill) from 16s
4.40 – Grandads Horse 16/1 (William Hill) from 28/1
5.15 – Lucky William 14/1 (William Hill) from 25/1.