The Road to Cheltenham: Mullins pair harden for hurdle features

Follow The Money
13 December 2015

Faugheen has hardened for the Champion Hurdle following Peace & Co's defeat

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The long road to Cheltenham continued this week with the pick of the action coming from Cheltenham and Doncaster...

"Having been trading at 8.515/2 in the Champion Hurdle market prior to the race, Peace And Co is out to 17.5 whereas Old Guard was backed into 22.021/1 from 34.033/1 and favourite Faugheen hardened into 2.447/5 from 2.68/5."

The highlight of the Cheltenham meeting was the 2m1f International Hurdle and all eyes were on Peace And Co. Previously unbeaten and cosy winner of last season's Triumph Hurdle, the four-year-old had looked a classy sort if at times a little unfurnished in his juvenile season and going into the weekend many thought he was Britain's best hope of wrestling the Champion Hurdle crown off Willie Mullins.

There wasn't much to cheer about in the race itself however as after pulling his way to the front and not conceding to drop his head at any stage, he eventually faded away to be last of six leaving the improving Old Guard to collect the honours.

Having been trading at 8.515/2 in the Champion Hurdle market prior to the race, Peace And Co is out to 17.5 whereas Old Guard was backed into 22.021/1 from 34.033/1 and favourite Faugheen hardened into 2.447/5 from 2.68/5.

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Earlier on the card, More Of That confirmed himself as a promising chaser in the making when easily brushing aside inferior rivals to win the Raymond Mould Memorial Novices' Chase. We probably didn't learn anything we didn't already know, however, and his price remains a steady 6.411/2 for the RSA Chase.

After the race, trainer Jonjo O'Neill suggested the Gold Cup might even be an option for his likeable seven-year-old and he was introduced at 55.054/1. Another of O'Neill's RSA hopes, Minella Rocco, had looked to get his chasing career back on track in the Harrison James and Hardie Novice' Chase the previous day. However a shuddering blunder at the fourth flight put paid to his chances and he was swiftly pulled up by Barry Geraghty. He is out to 34.033/1 from 20.019/1 for the RSA Chase whereas his victor that day, Blaklion, put in a neat round of jumping to earn quotes of 21.020/1 from 50.049/1.

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Alan King is said to have a good squad of juveniles this year and he sent two of them out to win on Saturday with the smooth travelling Sceau Royal winning at Cheltenham and the ex-Richard Hannon inmate Who Dares Wins scoring at Doncaster.

They were introduced to the Triumph Hurdle market at 22.021/1 and 26.025/1 respectively.

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Other highlights from the weekend include Southfield Royale ploughing his way through the Town Moor mud to win the December Novices' Chase at Doncaster. He is 14.5 from 21.020/1 for the National Hunt Chase although Aintree is said to be his main target.

Josies Orders made it back to back Cross-Country chases when following up his win at the Paddy Power meeting under an ultra-cool Nina Carberry. He was introduced at 4.67/2 to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and Any Currency, who put in a moody round under Richard Johnson, is available to back at 12.011/1.

Unowhatimeanharry made it 3-3 for Harry Fry when putting in a tough performance to see off Final Nudge in the Bristol Novices' Hurdle. It looked a weak race for the grade though and he can be backed at 40.039/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in March.

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On Thursday Willie Mullins unleashed Min at Punchestown, already favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle despite not having set foot on a racecourse in Britain. Rich Ricci's latest recruit from France arrived with a big reputation and duly delivered the goods, putting in a slick round of jumping and pulling effortlessly clear of the second to win by 14 lengths.

Layers were impressed and his odds for the Supreme collapsed into 5.69/2 from 9.08/1. He is set to follow in the footsteps of Douvan and Vautour when he comes back to Punchestown for the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle in January and it looks like Mullins and Ricci could have another superstar on their hands.

Main Market Movers

Peace And Co out to 17.5 from 8.515/2 for the Champion Hurdle
Old Guard in from 34.033/1 to 22.021/1 for the Champion Hurdle
Faugheen in from 2.68/5 to 2.447/5 for the Champion Hurdle
Minella Rocco out to 34.033/1 from 20.019/1 for the RSA Chase
Blaklion in from 55.054/1 to 21.020/1 for the RSA Chase
Min in from 9.08/1 to 5.69/2 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle