Fairyhouse winners odds-on for Cheltenham Festival glory
Published:
Will Zanahiyr, Ballyadam, Envoi Allen or Honeysuckle deliver in March?
After a great day of racing at Fairyhouse on Sunday, it’s 11/10 that one of the day’s Graded winners go on to triumph at Cheltenham Festival in March.
Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr won the Juvenile Hurdle, pushing him into early-favouritism for the Triumph Hurdle.
That was followed by the Elliott-trained Ballyadam maintaining his 100% record over hurdles in the Royal Bond Novices’ Hurdle. He’s now joint-favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Envoi Allen was the third of four winners on the day for Elliott, cruising to victory in the Drinmore Novice Chase by eight and a half lengths. You suspect there may still be even more to come from him, as he heads the early betting for the Marsh Novices’ Chase.
Honeysuckle retained her Hatton’s Grace crown, fending off a late challenge from Ronald Pump to seal her fifth Grade 1 victory. She’s currently favourite to defend the Mares’ Hurdle in March, though she’s some way behind Epatante in our Champion Hurdle market.
It’s 3/1 that two of Sunday’s Fairyhouse winners enjoy Cheltenham glory, and 12/1 that three or four do. On the other hand, it’s 2/1 that the quartet draws a blank.
“In Envoi Allen and Honeysuckle we’ve already got two previous Cheltenham Festival stars, and with Ballyadam and Zanahiyr joining them as Fairyhouse winners on Sunday, it seems unlikely none of the quartet will find themselves in the famous winners’ enclosure next March,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
11/10 One, 2/1 None, 3/1 Two, 12/1 Three or four
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
