Ladbrokes News vs Pricewise: Triumph in style with Beltor
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Rarely has it been so tricky to pick out a contender to go to war with in our antepost battle with Pricewise than it was to find an alternative to Peace and Co in the Triumph Hurdle.
However, while the short-priced favourite looks nothing short of top class, it is worth noting how many horses at longer odds have made the frame in recent years.
Kentucky Hyden was beaten into second at 20/1 last year, while Sametegal went off at 33/1 before coming home a distant third behind Our Conor in 2012.
The year before that Countrywide Flame (33/1) got the better of Hisabaat (20/1) up the Cheltenham hill, giving us all hope that a generally unfancied chance can land some money for the each-way backers.
With that in mind, we are going slightly left-field with our selection for this race with Beltor (50/1).
Formally rated 76 on the flat, Robert Stephens’ charge would be the fourth horse in five years to come from competing on the level to take the race, should he cause a shock.
That rating is actually higher than the aforementioned 2011 winner achieved before going over obstacles with John Quinn.
And with Beltor being a son of Derby winner Authorized, he ticks another box for trends followers, with eight of the last 10 winners of the race being sired by a Group 1 winning sire.
But rather than simply relying on the trends, a look at his sole run over hurdles should give plenty of encouragement.
Sent off the 16/1 fourth-favourite of nine, Tom O’Brien sat patiently in behind the more fancied pair of Arabian Revolution and Sebastian Beach on the Alison Mossop-owned gelding.
Approaching the second-last he made his move, and the response he got was very taking.
Quickening up nicely to pass the pair, even a bump from Noel Fehily’s mount after the last did nothing to halt his progress and he looked to be going away at the line.
And with the aforementioned pair going on to win next time out, the form took a timely boost.
Yet despite the victory over his more experienced rivals, Beltor remains a longer price than Arabian Revolution (33/1) and the same odds as Sebastian Beach (50/1).
With just a solitary run over hurdles to his name, more improvement is sure to come, and having won on good ground on the flat, a sounder surface at the Festival could eke out even more.
It’s going to take an awful lot to stop Peace and Co (7/4), but at massive odds, this one is worth a small interest.
Beltor becomes our second 50/1 antepost tip…
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