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Manifesto Novices Chase Betting: Wishfull Thinking and Medermit short odds at Aintree

The 2011 renewal of the Manifesto Novices Chase at Aintree on Thursday looks to be a straight shootout between three horses according to the ante-post betting. Wishfull Thinking and Medermit are battling it out for short price favouritism with Stan James bookmakers, with Paul Nicholls Royal Charm not far behind, as seven runners compete in the £75,000 Grade Two chase.

The Aintree Meeting often attracts plenty of star performers from Cheltenham Festival and this year is no different as the 2 mile 4 furlong Manifesto boasts Wishfull Thinking. Philip Hobbs' 8-year-old ran a brilliant race in the Jewson Novices Chase but couldn't quite match the final pace of Noble Prince, eventually finishing runner up by four lengths. The race was tinged with disappointment as the gelding had started as ante-post favourite and connections will be hoping he can justify 15/8 marginal favouritism this time.

Two wins and two places from five over fences, including a win in the Murphy Group Chase in January, indicate that Hobbs has a classy performer on his hands although a recent display at Aintree may give punters a few doubts. The 8-year-old fell during a chase at Aintree in October and question marks may have been created by that failure.

Alan King's Medermit will be looking to take advantage of any slip ups on Thursday and connections will be keen to see an improvement from their own star, who is 9/4 in the betting with Stan James. Medermit was many punters 'banker' at Cheltenham Festival but came unstuck in the 2 mile Arkle as the 7-year-old finished fourth, nine and a half lengths behind winner Captain Chris. The French import stayed on well but couldn't keep pace and the defeat was all the more galling as he had defeated Captain Chris in the Sicily Isles Novices Chase at Sandown in February.

Unsurprisingly King has opted to step Medermit back up in trip from the Arkle's 2 miles, and despite failing to convince over the Aintree fences as a 1/5 winning favourite in October he should enjoy the longer trip.

Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls' Royal Charm is also well backed at 7/2 in the betting with StanJames.com as the 6-year-old defends an unbeaten record over fences. The French import has won his two chase starts to date, both at Exeter and both in December. He caused quite a stir with a stunning 22 length win on debut, although his latest outing was less impressive as he struggled to win by a head from Leo's Lucky Star.

Away from the 'big three', there is a wealth of Irish challengers, with Tharawaat seemingly the best of the rest at 12/1. Gordon Elliot's 6-year-old has two wins and two places from six over fences, although it is the first time that Irish horse has run on English soil since failing to impress in the 2009 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Ferdy Murphy's 20/1 punt Hollo Ladies was a disappointment at Cheltenham Festival, finishing fourteenth in the Byrne Group Plate after being as short as 9/1 in the ante-post betting. Mistakes at the fourth and eighth proved costly, and such errors this week are likely to be punished by Medermit and co. Hold Fast, winner at Southwell in January, can be backed at 16/1 in the betting, while Dessie Hughes' Shirley Casper makes his debut on English soil after winning at Navan in March. The 10-year-old and completes the field as a 16/1 punt, and it would be a surprise if a horse outside of the top three in the betting took the title.

Latest Manifesto Novices Chase Odds

15/8 Wishfull Thinking
9/4 Medermit
7/2 Royal Charm
12/1 Tharawaat
16/1 Hold Fast
16/1 Shirley Casper
20/1 Hollo Ladies

Odds supplied by StanJames.com, who provide a comprehensive betting service for the Aintree Meeting this week.

Posted: Wednesday, 6th April 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: grand national, aintree meeting, wisfull thinking, medermit, stan james,

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