StanJames.com have cut Sir Des Champs from 5/1 to 9/2 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March after he beat Flemenstar in the Irish Hennessy.
The firm’s Rory Jiwani told betrescue.com, “After they went no pace early on, Davy Russell kicked for home on board Sir Des Champs and he had enough in the tank to hold off Flemenstar. That was a great result for us as we
had been keen to take on Peter Casey’s star. At one point we were the only firm offering odds-against after Bog Warrior’s withdrawal this morning. He’s now out to 16/1 for the Gold Cup but is surely a doubtful runner.
“We cut Sir Des Champs from 5/1 to 9/2 for the Gold Cup with Bobs Worth our 3/1 favourite. Silviniaco Conti is next best at 6/1 from 7/1 after justifying favouritism in the Denman Chase at Newbury. We didn’t learn too much about Paul Nicholls’ charge today but he’s a horse we’ve laid heavily in the last week or so.
“The Giant Bolster ran a big race in second and he could represent good each-way value in the Gold Cup having been runner-up to Synchronised last year. David Bridgwater’s stable star loves Cheltenham and we had to trim his price from 20/1 to 16/1.
“My Tent Or Yours cruised home to an emotional victory in the Betfair Hurdle for connections who lost Darlan earlier in the week. AP McCoy’s mount looked the winner a long way out and he delivered a big blow to the bookies. We initially cut him from 8/1 to 7/2 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but that was instantly snapped up and we had to cut further to 9/4 clear favourite. Jezki is now the 4/1 second favourite and also owned by JP McManus.
“Paul Nicholls’ Unioniste just held off Hadrian’s Approach to boost his Cheltenham credentials. He’s now 8/1 from 14/1 for the Festival Handicap Chase and 7/1 from 8/1 for the RSA Chase.”
“Not such good news for Nicholls at Warwick where’ Fago fell at the second last when looking like winning the Kingmaker. We’ve left him unchanged at 10/1 for the Arkle Chase with eventual winner Majala now 33/1 from 50/1 for the two-mile novice chase.
“Wishfull Thinking came with a strong late run to take the Game Spirit at Newbury. The soft ground probably wouldn’t have suited him and we’ve cut him from 33/1 to 20/1 for the Ryanair and 50/1 to 33/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
“Back in Ireland and Boston Bob left it late to take the PJ Moriarty Chase. Willie Mullins’ inmate appears to be crying out for a step up in trip and we’ve cut him from 6/1 to 4/1 for the RSA Chase and 5/1 to 7/2 for the National Hunt Chase.
“Our Conor dented some lofty reputations in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle with Dessie Hughes’ gelding keeping his unbeaten record over timber. He’s 6/1 from 16/1 for the Triumph and now second favourite behind Nicky Henderson’s Rolling Star.
“Champagne Fever returned to winning ways by making all in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle but it wasn’t a massively impressive display as he was pushed all the way by Bright New Dawn. We’ve trimmed him from 14/1 to 12/1 for the Neptune and 16/1 to 14/1 for the Albert Bartlett.”
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