Exchange session littered with expensive failures
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Cue Card was very strongly backed in the morning and traded at even-money during the race, but it was in-running supporters of the Nicky Henderson pair, Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre, who suffered most of all.
Spirit Son, who eventually finished second, looked beaten on the turn for home but rallied to lead at the final flight. He traded at 1.23 (1-4), while his stable-companion touched a low of 1.3 (3-10). The winner, Al Ferof, had been matched at 220 in the ante-post market.
Such was the manner in which Hurricane Fly travelled at the business end of the Champion Hurdle, he saved Betfair players from harm. Runner-up Peddlers Cross never went below even-money (2.04).
Quevega’s imperious display in taking her third successive David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle was cut and dried both on the course and on the exchanges. She hit a high of just 5-4 (2.26), while runner-up Sparky May was traded next shortest at a lengthy 9-4 (3.25).
Finian’s Rainbow (1.5), Quantitativeeasing (1.67), Maljimar (1.54) and Carole’s Legacy (1.5) were the other notable Batfair pariahs on the opening day of the Festival.
