Friday, March 5, 2004
THE CULT OF VENN OTTERY GATHERS MOMENTUM
NORTON'S COIN MK II?
Venn Ottery, unsuccessful in his first 23 races when trained by Oliver Carter, is now 25/1 with Ladbrokes for the Queen Mother having been as big as 1000/1 back in January. Since joining the Paul Nicholls yard the nine-year old has won three races in a row, two Class E Handicap Chases at Leicester and Ludlow and now a Class C event at Newbury.
Despite being dismissed by bookmakers when Venn Ottery's ambitious Cheltenham entries were made, Ladbrokes can report that the horse was not completely written off by punters as the firm has numerous recorded bets at 1000/1. The cult of Venn Ottery is a growing phenomenon with bets now being placed from all over Europe.
"We have taken bets in numerous currencies but bizarrely the cult seems strongest in Norway and we shall be paying out more kroner than sterling if the miracle gamble is landed," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.
Norton's Coin caused the biggest upset in racing to date when winning the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup at odds of 100/1. Sirrell Griffiths, the farmer-turned-trainer, had forgotten to enter Norton's Coin for the Mildmay of Flete Chase so instead decided only six weeks before the race to enter him in the Gold Cup.
Whilst Venn Ottery is clearly enjoying his time in the sun, life was not always quite so sweet. In only his fourth race, the Martell Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree, Venn Ottery at 100/1 fell at the first. The Racing Post analysis following the race read as follows, 'Venn Ottery looked an accident waiting to happen even before the tapes went up and duly turned a somersault at the first. He is plainly a headcase.'
Venn Ottery's magical road to Cheltenham gets a little bit wider and lights ahead a little bit brighter.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
2m, Cheltenham, 17th March 2004
10/11 Moscow Flyer, 13/8 Azertyuiop, 16 Cenkos, 16 Flagship Uberalles, 16 Isio, 16 Tuitchev, 25 Kadarann, 25 (from 50) Venn Ottery, 33 Native Scout, 33 Seebald, 50 Got One Too, 100 Eskleybrook, 150 Ei Ei (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)
Venn Ottery's price history
1000/1 12th January, Venn Ottery enters the betting for the first time 100/1 18th February, wins Class E Maiden Chase at Leicester breaking his duck at the 24th time of asking
50/1 25th February, wins effortlessly at Ludlow by 7 lengths under a 7lb penalty for Leicester win
25/1 4th March following Newbury win
National Hunt Trainers' Championship (Win & Place prize-money)
4/11 Paul Nicholls, 2 Martin Pipe, 16 Jonjo O'Neill, 50 P J Hobbs
PUNTERS PLAYING FOR POSSIBLE £600,000 FUND
A single winner of the Scoop6 this week would be playing for a roll over bonus fund of £546,719 meaning that they could win over £600,000. The bonus fund is still in play after last week's Racing Post Chase proved too difficult for the mystery Welsh punter. The bonus fund is not up for grabs this week because the Scoop6 was only played over 4 legs last week
This week the Scoop6 is divided between Newbury and Doncaster. With the Vodafone Gold Cup Chase looking particularly difficult to call punters will have to be on top of their game if they are going to compete for the bonus fund. When Scoop6 has included races from either Doncaster or Newbury, the bet has been won 50% of the time. Punters will be hoping that it's time for a win on Saturday.
Tomorrow's Live C4 TV Tote Scoop6 legs are:
Scoop6 TV C4 Legs
Leg 1 1.45 Newbury - Vodafone Novices Handicap Chase
Leg 2 2.00 Doncaster - Light Infantry Plate
Leg 3 2.20 Newbury - Vodafone Handicap Hurdle
Leg 4 2.35 Doncaster - Tote Scoop6 Grimthorpe Chase
Leg 5 2.55 Newbury - Vodafone Handicap Chase
Leg 6 3.30 Newbury - Vodafone Gold Cup Handicap Chase
GUINNESS AND THE DAILY TELEGRAPH TO JOIN FORCES AT THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
Two famous names - Guinness and The Daily Telegraph - have announced that they will be teaming up at the forthcoming Cheltenham National Hunt Festival (March 16 -18) to present awards for outstanding achievement on each of the three days.
The Guinness Festival Awards, which have become a valued and established part of the Cheltenham scene over recent years, will be re-named the "Guinness / The Daily Telegraph Festival Awards". They will continue to honour the individual who is considered to have made the most significant contribution to each day of the Festival.
The Awards winners will be selected by a prestigious panel, comprising representatives from the media and Cheltenham Racecourse, whose brief is "to reward a special moment caught on camera which captures the spirit and excellence of The Festival."
Presentations will be made each day in the Paddock prior to racing and also after the fifth race on Thursday. Henrietta Knight, last year's overall winner after completing a Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup double with Best Mate, will receive her award on Tuesday. The superb trophies are again generously donated by Waterford Crystal, producers of the world's finest crystal for two centuries.
On the Saturday after the Festival (March 20), viewers of Channel Four's 'Morning Line' will be asked to vote for the overall winner of the 2004 Festival Awards from the three daily winners. This trophy will be presented on the opening day of the 2005 Cheltenham Festival, when the meeting expands to four days.
Last month The Daily Telegraph announced that it is to sponsor the Leading Trainer Award at both the Cheltenhan Festival and Aintree's Grand National Meeting. The paper already sponsors the Leading Rider Award at these meetings. At Cheltenham, as well as trophies for both Awards, The Daily Telegraph will give the Leading Trainer and the Leading Rider a holiday in Spain, while Guinness will present a special golden keg of the black stuff to both winners to be enjoyed back at their respective stables.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
|
