Cheltenham Open Meeting ODDS

Trainer Martin Pipe - Paul Nicholls with Taranis - Our Vic (8/1), Commercial Flyer (8/1) and Contraband (14/1)

[ClickPress, Fri Nov 03 2006] The Open is probably the first big meeting on the National Hunt calendar, and sees many potential festival contenders running over the tough Prestbury Park course. The meeting is staged over three days (Fri-Sun) with the feature race being the Paddy Power Gold Cup run on the Saturday.

The race is still referred to by many as the ‘Mackeson’ due to its long term association with the contest which ended in 1996, and has since been known as the Murphy’s Gold Cup and the Thomas Pink Gold Cup until Paddy Power decided to take over the deal in 2003.

Being one of two BHB Order of Merit races on the card the 2m 4 1/2f contest is always a strong betting heat with plenty of ante post activity in the lead up to the race.

Trainer Martin Pipe has a formidable record in the race winning it seven times in the last 10 years with horses like Cyfor Malta, Lady Cricket, Shooting Light and last year with Our Vic. However he has handed over the reigns at his stable to son David, so all eyes will be on whether it’s ‘like father like son’ and if he can maintain that incredible record.

Favourites are worth keeping on your side with 50% of the last 10 races going to the jolly. Plus 6-year-olds have the best record landing 3 out of 10, with no horse older than 9-years-old being successful in that same period.
Winners are generally well touted to return to Cheltenham later that season at the festival to contest the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but be warned because no horse in the last 10 years has gone on to complete the double.
This year’s race sees the Paul Nicholls trained Taranis, who is unbeaten over fences when completing, head the betting at BestPrice 11/2, just behind him is Reveillez who has already shown his liking for the track after winning last seasons Jewson Chase winner on the 6/1 mark. Plus the combination of David Pipe and owner David Johnson have last years winner Our Vic (8/1), Commercial Flyer (8/1) and Contraband (14/1) entered at this stage.
All the leading bookmakers will have varied views on the race so be sure to visit Easyodds.com, an odds comparison site, where during the build up and on the day you can compare the BestPrice betting odds, get the latest offers and read their in-depth race day previews on the three days of top class action.

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