Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.20pm) sponsors Betfred have been knocked over this morning as punters piled onto Silviniaco Conti at 5/1.
The Warrington firm cut the King George winner to 3/1 after racking up their largest individual liability of The Festival. Many Clouds is also popular for The Festival showpiece and has been trimmed into 15/2 (from 10/1), capsule while Coneygree is solid at 10/1.
Outside the feature race, sick Betfred report money for Top Notch in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30pm) and the Nicky Henderson-trained juvenile is 7/1 (from 8/1). Two horses have been popular in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, check with Princely Conn being backed into 10/1 (from 12/1) and Sort It Out trimmed to 12/1 (from 16/1). There has been a good spread of business in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (4.40pm) but Full Shift is the one punters have latched on to and the J P McManus-owned gelding is now 9/1 (from 12/1). The A P McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (5.15pm) is the final race of this year’s Festival and Grumeti is the one for money having been supported into 16/1 (from 25/1).
Betfred spokesman Andrew Griffiths said: “We went in all guns blazing to lay Silviniaco and there’s been a flood of cash for him. Our 5/1 proved irresistible punters and we’ll be paying out long into the night if he wins. Of the others, the rain has done anything but dampen punters’ enthusiasm for Coneygree and Many Clouds. They are the best backed in the field away from the jolly. The forecast gamble on Carlingford Lough is yet to materialise, but that could quickly change if the champ gets on the scoreboard early with Ned Buntline looming in the finale.”
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup – sponsors bet: 3/1 Silviniaco Conti, 7/1 Djakadam, 15/2 Many Clouds, 10/1 Carlingford Lough, Coneygree, Holywell, 11/1 Road To Riches, 18/1 Bobs Worth, Lord Windermere, 25/1 Sam Winner, Smad Place, 33/1 Boston Bob, On His Own, The Giant Bolster, 50/1 Houblon des Obeaux, 100/1 Home Farm.