Bookies fear right Royal hammering
After Michael Hourigan declared 10-time Grade One winner Beef Or Salmon, the weights did not rise for the three-mile-five-furlong showpiece at Fairyhouse.
Unsurprisingly, Martin’s ante-post favourite has been all the rage as a result and Betfred have been forced to slash him from 9-2 to 7-2 after laying the horse to lose £200,000.
“Tony Martin’s charge has been at the head of the betting since it opened and as soon as the final declarations came through confirming he was one of 27 intended runners our phones started bouncing with punters clambering to get on,” said spokesman Dave Metcalf.
“Martin’s horses always send a shiver down our spines and it is no secret that this has been the long-term objective for Royal County Star.”
With Beef Or Salmon set to carry 12st, next in the weights on 11st 3lb is Forget The Past, third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years ago, while Ballistraw is the only other runner weighted above 11st.
Andrew McNamara expects a bold show from Denis Hickey’s horse but admits the race will take a lot of winning.
“It looks even more open this year than others I think,” said McNamara.
“Because of Beef Or Salmon there are lots of horses that look well-in this year running off light weights.
“Ballistraw won well at Gowran and he was well-fancied for the Thyestes the time before when I rode him but he made a big mistake at the first fence and he just never got into it.
“He beat Kicking King and Jessica Harrington’s horse (Knight Legend) the last day, but he does have enough weight. He’s got 11st 1lb, but he is a nice horse and hopefully he can run a nice race.”
