With Cheltenham now only three weeks away, it is worth scouring the Internet for some great value prices. If you have a Sportsbet account, they are advertising some fantastic prices for the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle.
The horse that is a relatively short priced favourite in the UK is Ireland’s Faugheen who is unbeaten after five races. His most recent success came in a Grade 3 at Limerick in December over three miles. Connections are confident that he is quick enough to win over two but are favouring the Neptune at present. Sportsbet have him priced at 10-1 so now is the time to move in if you fancy him strongly.
The Tullow Tank is another Irish raider with top class form and looks likely to run here in preference to the Supreme following his second place behind Vautour. The Willie Mullins-trained winner looks very smart and Ruby Walsh was able to dictate the pace and quicken all the way up the finishing straight. It was no disgrace to finish a staying on second and Cheltenham should provide The Tullow Tank with a sufficient test.
Mullins has several options for this race with Briar Hill and Rathvinden standing out at present. Briar Hill won the Champion Bumper last season but has failed to capture the imagination this season. He has continued winning but without impressing and I could see him being saved for the three-mile Albert Bartlett.
Rathvinden was closing on Deputy Dan when falling at Warwick and then ran a great race behind Red Sherlock at Cheltenham. The winner kept finding extra and looks a typical Pipe horse that just keeps on going. Sportsbet are showing 20-1 about Red Sherlock and you won’t even get half of that over in the UK.
Pipe also has Saturday’s easy Ascot winner Un Temps Pour Tout in the race. He was only second to Zamdy Man on his hurdling debut and you could tell connections were a little shell-shocked that he was beaten. He put matters straight with an easy win at the weekend and the extra half-mile may have been the key to him. Pipe is going to enter him in handicaps but I cannot see him taking that route unless the handicapper is unusually kind. If you fancy him, take the 25-1 with Sportsbet.
Neptune Novices’ Hurdle (Cheltenham)
Faugheen at 10-1 Sportsbet
Red Sherlock at 20-1 Sportsbet
Un Temps Pour Tout at 25-1 Sportsbet
