Totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle betting and odds preview

Events / Editor / 20 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

One of the hottest betting contests of the National Hunt season, Newbury's Totesport Trophy, run over two miles at the February meeting, always attracts masses of runners, many of whom have been the subject of significant ante-post bets.

Nicky Henderson has a fine record in the race having landed three of the last seven renewals (including twice with Geos) and his runners always attract plenty of betting interest and figure prominently in the odds list. There have been a few shock results of late though, none more so than when Heathcote landed the 2007 event at odds of 50/1, having been completely unconsidered by the betting public.

Traditionally, horses at the top of the handicap use this race as a warm-up for the Champion Hurdle and a good run can see the ante-post odds tumble if a horse puts in a particularly noteworthy performance.

Irish raiders have won twice in the last five years, including Essex, the subject of a monster betting coup when landing stacks of Irish bets in 2005, having been backed down at all rates to odds of just 4/1 favourite.