Two favourites beaten at odds-on made it a rewarding day for the bookmakers on the opening afternoon at the Festival, though the success of 3-1 favourite Epatante in the feature event sent at least some money in the opposite direction.
Tuesday, though, was probably little more than a warmup for Wednesday’s exchanges in the betting ring. The two middle days of the meeting proved hugely rewarding for the backers last year, with a long run of winning favourites that left the bookies chasing their losses for a change (and cost racing around £5m in Levy income). This afternoon’s card certainly has the potential to be just as profitable for punters.
It has a short-priced favourite at either end, headed up by Envoi Allen in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle. He has been seen as a banker for months, with other trainers arranging their running plans around where he was most likely to turn up, and the news on Sunday that Gordon Elliott had singled out the opener this afternoon was enough to send his price below even money.
If Envoi Allen goes in, there are several warm favourites throughout the card for reinvestment of winnings, ahead of the Bumper at 5.30, when Willie Mullins’s Appreciate It is yet another short-priced market leader. Even the Cross Country, generally one of the least popular events at the meeting from a betting point of view, offers no refuge for the bookies, as dual National winner Tiger Roll, probably the most popular chaser in training, will be attempting to follow up last year’s victory.
If the results start going the punters’ way, it is possible that there will be as many as four horses at around evens or shorter on today’s card, as Defi Du Seuil is only narrowly odds-against for the Champion Chase.
This race, of course, is now a head-to-head after Altior’s departure from the line-up on Tuesday. The bookmakers seem fairly sure at this stage that Defi Du Seuil will set off as favourite, but having walked around the race a dozen times and prodded it in all manner of places, I still can’t see why Chacun Pour Soi is not joint-favourite at least.
He is 6lb clear of Defi Du Seuil on Timeform ratings, beat his main rival soundly at Punchestown last year, should still be improving after just eight starts to date and stopped the clock in the sort of time that only an outstanding performer can manage at Leopardstown last time. Defi Du Seuil, it’s true, has the important advantage of proven form at the track, but even so.
Still, it’s all about opinions and this one, along with many others, will be tested when the tapes go up – or rather, across – at 1.30pm GMT this afternoon. Chris Cook’s tips for the day are here, and all the news and views will appear here as they happen.