Results & Reviews / Timeform / 13 March 2012 /

All the in-play and ante-post highs and lows on the opening day of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, including Timeform in-running analysis...

Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Winner: Cinders and Ashes
Betfair SP: [12.0]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [60.0]
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: Cinders and Ashes backed at [17.5] in the run; Montbazon traded at [2.5]

The Donald McCain-trained Cinders and Ashes lands the Cheltenham Festival opener, hitting an in-running high of [17.5] having been sent off at a Betfair SP of [12.0]. Cinders and Ashes mixed slick hurdling with sloppy down the back straight but was still travelling comfortably at the crest of the hill. Turning in, Montbazon was travelling noticeably powerfully, hitting [2.5] in-running, but Cinders and Ashes sped towards the final flight, which he made a mess of, but was not for catching on the run to the line.

Arkle Chase
Winner: Sprinter Sacre
Betfair SP: [1.82]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [17.0]
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: Sprinter Sacre never traded above [1.95]

Sprinter Sacre put up a phenomenal performance in the Arkle Chase, never trading above [1.95] having been sent off at a Betfair SP of [1.82]. Backing this horse ante-post clearly reaped its rewards as at one stage he was available at [17.0], a price the Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old made look enormous. Cue Card stuck on well for second but main rival Al Ferof made a terrible mistake at the fourth last from which he could never recover.

JLT Specialty Handicap Chase
Winner: Alfie Sherrin
Betfair SP: [19.35]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [160.0] (£10 matched)
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: Alfie Sherrin traded at a high of [34.0] (with very small sums matched at [40.0]), long time leader Fruity O'Rooney traded at [2.02] as did Our Mick, The Package was backed at [2.2]

For a long way this race looked set to be dominated by those racing prominently, and turning for home Fruity O'Rooney and Our Mick, both front-ranked, traded as low as [2.02] in-running. The Package was the one making notable headway under Timmy Murphy, trading at [2.2], but after jumping the second last he began to tire and Alfie Sherrin looked the main threat to long-time leader Fruity O'Rooney. On the run for home Alfie Sherrin always looked to be gaining the upper-hand and rewarded punters who supported him in-running, hitting [34.0], and ante-post, with £10 matched at [160.0].

Champion Hurdle
Winner: Rock on Ruby
Betfair SP: [13.04]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [190 .00](£14 matched)
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: Rock on Ruby was backed at [17.5] (£228 matched) in the run, odds-on favourite and defending champion Hurricane Fly (BSP [1.79]) was backed at a low of [1.61]

The 2012 Champion Hurdle was a true test from the start, with Overturn attacking his hurdles with zest and leading the field at a break-neck pace. Defending champion Hurricane Fly and 2010 hero Binocular were both held-up, with the former trading at an in-running low of [1.61] having been sent off at a Betfair SP of [1.79].

Rock on Ruby, under jockey Noel Fehily, was sat in second throughout the majority of the contest and travelled well but still went to an in-running high of [17.5] from a BSP of [13.04], with punters working on the assumption than one of the past winners would accelerate and scythe through the field. On the contrary, coming down to the last Rock on Ruby looked to have the race sewn up. He gave his rivals half a chance when having a little look around on the approach to the hurdle but, having jumped it cleanly, he then powered up the hill with Overturn sticking gallantly to his task in second.

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Winner: Balthazar King
Betfair SP: [7.4]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [32.0]
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: A New Story ran the winner to the line and was backed at [1.11] to win, defending champion Sizing Australia traded at [2.04]

Balthazar King, sent off at a Betfair SP of [7.4], raced prominently throughout with jockey Richard Johnson getting a lead off eventual third Wedger Pardy. There were thrills and spills throughout the contest, but turning for home it was Balthazar King in the lead with A New Story looming large on his inside. The latter traded at an in-running low of [1.11] and did look the most likely winner, but Balthazar King battled right to the line to land the spoils. Defending champion Sizing Australia travelled well and traded as low as [2.04], but faded to finish fourth.

The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle
Winner: Quevega
Betfair SP: [1.61]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [3.4]
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: Quevega traded at a high of even money in the run. Lowest price matched on any other runner - [5.1] Kells Belle

Quevega extended her stranglehold on the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle with a dominant performance to beat Kentford Grey Lady into second and Golden Sunbird into third. The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was winning the race for the fourth consecutive year and traded at a high of even money in-running having started at a Betfair SP of [1.61]. The steady early pace meant that Quevega had a wall of horses in front of her turning for home but, as soon as a gap appeared, Ruby Walsh asked her to pick up and the race was over in an instant.

Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase
Winner: Hunt Ball
Betfair SP: [9.0]
Ante-Post High of Winner: [50.0]
Notable In-Running Highs and Lows: Hunt Ball was backed at a high of [10.5] in-running

Hunt Ball, the most improved National Hunt horse of the season, continued his meteoric rise with success in the concluding race of Day One on the Cheltenham Festival. Hunt Ball began at a Betfair SP of [9.0] and hit an in-running high of [10.5] but, for those that scour the ante-post markets, [50.0] was available about the seven-year-old gaining his seventh win of the season.

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