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Cheltenham Festival betting hots up as handicap race weights are unveiled

With the prestigious Cheltenham Festival just under two weeks away the weights for the eleven handicap races have been unveiled. The Stewart Family Chase on the opening day of the Festival sees Siegemaster, fifth in the recent Bobbyjo Chase, carry top weight of 11st 12lb alongside Tom George's Nacarat.

It is Bensalem who heads the betting though after finishing second in his latest outing at Haydock, although he could face a stern challenge from the Racing Post Chase winner Quinz. There is talk that Philip Hobbs' 7-year-old could head to Aintree for the Grand National, but he is set to carry 11st 10lb in the Cheltenham handicap and can be backed at an industry best of 10/1 in the betting with Paddy Power. Elsewhere, 9/1 punt Great Endeavour is set to shoulder 11st 5lb and 10/1 Sunnyhillboy 10st 10lb.

For the competitive Coral Cup, on Ladies' Day at the Festival, For Non Stop has been well backed. The Nick Williams-trained horse is an industry best price 8/1 favourite with PaddyPower but the impressive youngster is relying on other horses to make way if he is to make the 28 runner field as he is set to carry just 10st 2lb. Although the 7-year-old does also carry an entry for the Albert Bartlett. The best of the rest for the Coral include Aegean Dawn at 10/1 and a weight of 10st 12lb, while 12/1 punt Walkon is set to carry 11st 7lb.

Another of the first day handicap races will be the Glenfarclass Cross Country Chase as the veteran Garde Champetre looks for a third win in the race after enjoying success in 2008 and 2009. The 12-year-old was a disappointing fifth in last year's renewal but can be backed as an industry best priced 9/2 favourite with Paddy Power after winning at Punchestown last time out. He will shoulder the burden of 11st 12lb, while nearest rival in the betting and last year's runner up L'Ami, a 6/1 punt, is just a pound lighter at 11st 11lb. Sizing Australia is third favourite at 8/1 after finishing 11th last year and carries 10st 9lb.

Meanwhile, the County Hurdle on the Friday of the Festival looks set to be a competitive affair with Cheltenham debutant Recession Proof at the head of the betting at 8/1 with PaddyPower and looks nicely weighted at 10st 1lb. There is a cluster of others at 12/1, including fellow debutants Dirar and Final Approach who carry 10st 2lb and 10st 3lb respectively. They are likely to be challenged by the Fred Winter runner up from last year, Ski Sunday, who carries 10st 7lb and the JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Alcaivan who is set to go with 10st 8lb.

Other handicap highlights for the Festival include the Centenary Novices on the opening day where the well backed Definity is set to carry 11st 8lb and is a 12/1 punt with PaddyPower.com, although Quantitativeeasing is 10/1 favourite and is likely to carry 11st 11lb. The Kim Muir on the Thursday of the Festival sees two of the favourites in 8/1 shot Galant Nuit and 10/1 Junior carry 11st 6lb. The Grand Annual rounds up the racing on the Friday where Nicky Henderson has a strong hand and lays claim to three of the top four weights, as well as the 9/1 favourite Tanks For That.

Check out all of the handicap weights for Cheltenham Festival at our dedicated mini-site.

Latest Cheltenham Festival Ante Post Betting

Spinal Research Handicap Odds

6/1 Bensalem, 9/1 Great Endeavour, 10/1 Quinz, 10/1 Sunnyhillboy, 12/1 Blazing Bailey, 12/1 Junior, 14/1 Weird Al, 16/1 BAR

Cross Country Chase Odds

9/2 Grade Champetre, 6/1 L'Ami, 8/1 Sizing Australia, 10/1 King Johns Castle, 14/1 Maljimar, 14/1 A New Story, 14/1 One Cool Cookie, 14/1 Arabella Boy, 16/1 BAR

Centenary Novices Chase Odds

10/1 Quantitativeeasing, 10/1 Divers, 12/1 Definity, 12/1 Aigle D'Or, 12/1 Some Target, 12/1 Premier Sagas, 14/1 On Borrowed Wings, 14/1 Nadiya de La Vega, 16/1 BAR

Coral Cup Odds

8/1 For Non Stop, 10/1 Aegean Dawn, 12/1 Call The Police, 12/1 Walkon, 14/1 Final Approach, 16/1 Get Me Out Of Here, 16/1 Bothy, 16/1 Sir des Champs, 20/1 BAR

Kim Muir Challenge Cup Odds

8/1 Galant Nuit, 10/1 Junior, 10/1 Beautiful Sound, 10/1 Quantitativeeasing, 10/1 Promising Anshan, 10/1 Aberdale, 12/1 Tharawaat, 12/1 Alderley River, 14/1 BAR

County Hurdle Odds

11/1 Recession Proof, 12/1 Ski Sunday, 12/1 Dirar, 12/1 Final Approach, 12/1 Alaivan, 12/1 Notus De La Tour, 14/1 Aegean Dawn, 14/1 Blackstairmountain, 14/1 Get Me Out Of Here, 16/1 BAR

Grand Annual Odds

8/1 Tanks For That, 12/1 Anquetta, 12/1 Oh Crick, 12/1 Peak Raider, 12/1 French Opera, 12/1 Mad Max, 12/1 Giorgio Quercus, 16/1 BAR

All odds supplied by PaddyPower.com.

Posted: Wednesday, 2nd March 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: cheltenham festival, cheltenham festival, coral cup, stewart family spinal research chase, paddypower,

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