Cheltenham Market Movers 2012: Tuesday

8.18 UPDATE: The waiting is over - the Cheltenham Festival is here!

The going is good, good to soft in places on the chase and hurdle courses, with the cross-country good to firm. The going stick is 7.4 for the chase and hurdle courses, that is the same reading as on Paddy Power Gold Cup day back in November. Last year’s Festival started with a reading of 7.7, therefore the watering seems to have been successful in slowing down the going.

8.47: Paddy Power are looking to take on the big guns, going evens on both Sprinter Sacre (Arkle 2.05) and Hurricane Fly (Champion Hurdle 3.20).

8.51: Ruby Walsh heads the betting in the top jockey market at 8/13 (William Hill) with Barry Geraghty 4/1 (Sportingbet). AP McCoy is a best price 12/1 with Sportingbet.

With two short price favourites on day one, Willie Mullins is 5/4 (William Hill) to be the Festival’s top trainer this week. Nicky Henderson is 9/4 (Sportingbet) with Paul Nicholls 4/1 (Stan James).

9.23: The Cheltenham betting markets are traditionally strong and they are holding up well again with very few moves to report. There has been a nibble for Alfie Sherrin, 18/1 (BetVictor) from 25s in the JLT Handicap at 2.40.

10.10: Paddy Power have caved in, they couldn’t hold the even money any longer. Sprinter Sacre is odds-on again and no bigger than 10/11 (Paddy Power) for the Arkle Trophy at 2.05.  Hurricane Fly has also been cut to 10/11 (Paddy Power) for the Champion Hurdle at 3.20.

10.55: The money is coming for Hurricane Fly, now a best price 5/6 (William Hill). Boylesports are betting 2/5 that he starts the race odds-on. Everything else in the race is looking friendless.

11:48: Just under two hours to go until the first race at Cheltenham. Dyland Ross 28/1 (Bet365) and Hazy Tom 50/1 (Bet365) have been backed at big prices for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30. In the same race, Midnight Game is a big drifter, having almost doubled in price to 20/1 (Bet365). 

12:15: Quevega is going for her fourth successive victory in the Mares Hurdle at 4.40 but she is a prohibitive 4/7 (Sportingbet) in a 20-runner field. Bet365 are the only bookmaker to offer ¼ odds for a top-four finish and the each-way money has come for Shop DJ, 20/1 into 12/1 with Bet365.

13:00: Half an hour to go until the first race of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. Our racing expert has gone for Tetlami available at 12/1 in places.

13.37: Cinders And Ashes crashes through the last obstacle but carries on as if it wasn’t there to win the opener.

13.48: Sprinter Sacre being backed for the Arkle, he is a best price 4/5. Remember Boylesports will refund your stake if your horse finishes second in the race and Paddy Power will refund all losing bets on the race if Sprinter Sacre wins.

14:11: Paddy Power will have to get their chequebook out. Monstrous performance from Sprinter Sacre to win the Arkle and credit to Cue Card for chasing him home. Good result for the punters and gets our racing tipster up and running for the festival.

14.22: Alfie Sherrin the big mover in the JTL Handicap at 2.40. Backed into 16/1 (Boylesports) from 25/1 this morning.

14.51: Alfie Sherrin lands the gamble and returns the winner at 14/1.

15.00: The Champion Hurdle is only 20-minutes away and Hurricane Fly is all the rage. After Sprinter Sacre’s win in the Arkle there will be plenty of money rolling onto Hurricane Fly in doubles and trebles with Quevega. He is 8/11 with Bet365.

Encouraging money for outsider Zaidpour, our racing tipster’s selection. Cut to 25/1 in places but still 33/1 with Boylesports.

15.37: Noel Fehily stole a march on the field around the bend with a very canny ride. Rock On Ruby wins from Overturn with Hurricane Fly back in third.

15.50: For the remainder of the card Quevega is one to watch in the Mares Hurdle at 4.40 but at 4/6 (William Hill) it takes a brave person to back her in such a big field.

An up and down day for punters, Hurricane Fly was turned over at a short price in the Champion Hurdle but Sprinter Sacre proved to be the real deal with a sparkling win in the Arkle.