Tony Calvin: Jon a decent price to do Little wrong at Cheltenham

It's fair to say that we hit the bar with our 20-1 each-way play on Special Tiara in the Betfair Tingle Creek last week, but there is no point in ruing our bad luck. It is horse racing, and it happens.

However, one striking aspect of the controversial events at Sandown on Saturday was apparently the crowd reaction when replays of Sire De Grugy taking out Special Tiara at the last were put on the big screen on course.

Now, I wasn't there - and apparently viewers on Channel 4 didn't hear it either, and other racegoers I have spoken to were equally unaware to the negativity - but Betfair PR supremo Barry Orr tweeted that "boos ringing out in Sandown every time they play the head-on on the big screen" and "biggest boo I have ever heard on a racecourse came when the result of the stewards inquiry was announced."

And this was backed up by racecourse bookie Barry Dennis, who wrote on the Betfair forum:"60 years on course, never heard the crowd react like today, they booed loudly at replays of Sire De Grugy bumping/ crossing Special Tiara at last, and nearly brought the roof down when stewards confirmed result."

Now, I know that the runner-up was punted by many and his supporters would have been by far more vocal, for obvious reasons.

But I found the seeming level of disapproval pretty incredible given the popular connections of the high-profile winner were on a winning roll, and the horse was also very well-backed on the day, too.

It may just go to show the BHA, again, that our rules really do favour the first past the post a little too much.

Anyway, on to the upcoming ante-post races at Cheltenham.

Any Currency is the 3.6553/20 favourite for the Cross Country race on Friday, while there is also an exchange market on the good 3m2f handicap chase on the card.

But Saturday's contests look the ones to focus on.

The International Hurdle at 15:00 sees the return of the unbeaten Peace And Co and a few good judges are getting pretty excited by his Champion Hurdle claims this year, for which he is a top-priced 8-1.

But we have already nailed our colours to the mast in the Champion Hurdle with 33-1 chance Old Guard, who rates the biggest rival to the Triumph Hurdle winner this weekend.

Hopefully, he can enhance his Festival claims on Saturday, even in defeat, but it makes sense to watch the International without a further interest. I did think he was very impressive in winning the Greatwood off a mark of 145 though, and fully deserves this step up in grade.

The big betting race of the weekend is the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at 13:50 and Little Jon looks worth an interest at 12-1 each way (1/4 1,2,3,4) with the Betfair Sportsbook. With only 18 runners at the five-day stage, it will be surprising if there are still four places up for grabs on Saturday.

Irish Cavalier heads the market at 8.27/1 but that is surprising given the stable are out of sorts at the moment after a bad batch of hay knocked the horses off their stride at the end of last month.

I think you have to look elsewhere for the winner, and the likes of Village Vic is of obvious interest, while Doctor Phoenix has been very impressive in 2m wins at Lingfield and Haydock, and proved that he got this longer trip over hurdles last season.

I fear the latter most but have to stay loyal to Little Jon, who belied my stamina fears when seeing out the testing 2m4f out really well when doing us a favour at 12-1 at Newbury last time.

He was given a superb ride by Jamie Bargary that day. The horse likes to get on with it from the front, but he wisely didn't get in a pace duel at Newbury, and still had plenty left to repel Upepito on the run-in.

He is 6lb higher here and this race has more depth but he jumped and travelled like a handicapper firmly on the up last time - and he has always threatened to be a good horse if and when his jumping held up - and it was interesting to hear assistant trainer Carl Llewellyn mention this race in the immediate aftermath of the Newbury win.

It is not a race to go overboard about but the 12-1 each way about Little Jon, or 13.012/1 on the exchange, is very fair.


Recommended Bet

Back Little Jon 12-1 each-way (1/4 1,2,3,4) with the Betfair Sportsbook