Blazing Khal a market mover: Cheltenham ante-post betting news
There were contrasting performances from two leading Cheltenham Festival contenders over the weekend – and also differing levels of optimism from connections.
Blazing Khal returned from 428 days on the easy list to win the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday for Charles Byrnes, propelling himself into the favourite’s slot for next month’s Stayers’ Hurdle in the Cotswolds.
Jonbon, meanwhile, won Saturday’s Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick for Nicky Henderson, beating a single rival but shed his position as ante-post favourite for the Arkle on March 14 after having to dig deep for the success.
Byrnes was delighted with the performance from Blazing Khal, but wary of a bounce factor at Cheltenham, while Henderson felt that Jonbon getting into a skirmish at Warwick will only serve him well.
Cheltenham ante-post betting news
- Blazing Khal to win the Stayers’ Hurdle @ 5/2 with bet365
- Jonbon to win the Arkle @ 15/8 with bet365
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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Khal back with guns blazing
Blazing Khal was one of the most promising staying novice hurdlers around last season but a setback ensured he missed all the major spring festivals, including Cheltenham where he had won twice early in the campaign.
Byrnes’s charge met with some minor setbacks this season, leading to the trainer rating him only “50-50” to make Cheltenham as recently as January, but his return at Navan was a delight for connections.
Under a patient ride from the trainer’s son Philip Byrnes, the seven-year-old moved smoothly into contention from the home turn and won the 2m 5f contest in pleasing fashion.
It moved him into a general 5/2 top spot in the betting for the Stayers’ Hurdle. But his trainer, while delighted and foreseeing the potential for improvement, regrets that he will not have time for another run between now and March 16.
Charles Byrnes said: “He’s definitely a very good horse. He was working well and doing a lot of work over the last few weeks. We did expect a big run, he was fairly straight.
“With him it’s day by day, but naturally we’ll be thinking of Cheltenham, of course. We’ve had so many false dawns with him. It’s just been little, niggly problems.
“The timing is not too bad, I suppose. We would have preferred to have him out before now, but it is what it is.”
He added: “He was fairly fit today but naturally with race fitness you’d hope he’d come on again.
“You always have the bounce factor and ideally you’d want a second run, but it is what it is and we’re delighted to get him back.”
Selection: Blazing Khal to win the Stayers’ Hurdle @ 5/2 with bet365
Jonbon may benefit from Kingmaker scare
Unbeaten chaser Jonbon was short at 1/16 at the off for the Kingmaker at Warwick, with Dan Skelton’s Calico his only rival after raceday defections. The pair were wide apart on ratings, to the tune of 23lb, ensuring Jonbon and Aidan Coleman were expected to notch an easy win.
They faced a real challenge when Harry Skelton’s partner skipped up his inside and suddenly moved four lengths clear as Jonbon briefly looked in a spot of bother. But the Seven Barrows inmate was foot-perfect in what remained of the race and ran out a winner by more than five lengths.
It was not to everyone’s pleasure despite the pair clocking a good time. Jonbon is now second favourite for the Arkle behind El Fabiolo, the Willie Mullins inmate whom he defeated narrowly in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree last season.
Coleman felt Jonbon was “rusty” in the Kingmaker and stressed that Warwick was very much a “trial for the Arkle”.
Henderson felt his charge would have gained plenty for the experience. “He’s had such easy races [this season] I think he got taken by surprise when the other horse attacked him.
“He just sort of shook his head. It will do him no harm as he hasn’t had a race since Aintree last year. I'm going to look on the bright side.”
Selection: Jonbon to win the Arkle @ 15/8 with bet365
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