Cheltenham Ante-Post news
2.03.2010
Anyone holding an ante-post voucher for long time JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Mille Chief, will be feeling more than a little uncomfortable after the gelding's absence from Kempton's Adonis Hurdle, the race that was to be his Cheltenham warm-up.
Rumours began to circulate late on Friday morning that all was not well with Alan King's gelding who started to drift on the betting exchanges. Having announced via his website that Mille Chief had returned lame after Friday exercise, King took the French bred out of the Kempton event (for which he would have been a red-hot favourite and was picking up lots of racing tips), and was deposed as ante-post market leader for Cheltenham by prime Irish candidate Alaivan.
Mille Chief now faces a race against time to be fit by March 19 and can be backed by a Cheltenham Bet at odds as high as 7/1 for the two-mile juvenile hurdling crown. The source of the four-year-old's problem has yet to be determined as x-rays have failed to reveal any obvious damage. King suggested that the 72 hours following the gallop will more likely reveal exactly what is causing the gelding such discomfort.
Mille Chief's potential absence from the Triumph Hurdle throws the spotlight on Alaivan and Carlito Brigante, the former now 5/1 favourite and the latter offered at 6/1. The pair met at Leopardstown on Boxing Day when Alaivan was sent off at odds-on but was soundly beaten into second by Gordon Elliot's charge. Carlito Brigante went on to show that win was no fluke when landing the Scottish Triumph Hurdle at Musselburgh, whilst Alaivan proved the Leopardstown run all wrong when he bolted up by 17 lengths in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last time out and looks a god bet to make them all go in the Triumph Hurdle.
Even if Mille Chief does somehow manage to recover fitness, he will have it all to do to beat both talented Irish raiders. Something to consider when you place your Cheltenham Free Bet.
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