HENNESSY COGNAC GOLD CUP

Martin Pipe’s Our Vic shot to the head of the market for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup after his gutsy win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last week and has been cut from 12-1 to 5-1 with VC Bet.

A 6lb penalty for that success brings his weight up to 11st 4lbs and he clearly holds a favourite’s chance in the Newbury spectacular on November 26.

VC Bet’s Neal Wilkins commented “Saturday’s victory was a fantastic training achievement by Martin Pipe bringing the horse back to win after his problems last season. Our Vic clearly proved that he has got his confidence back and off his present handicap mark he will surely be making up for lost time”.

Nick Henderson’s Trabolgan who was available at 14-1 last week-end has come in for further support and is now clear favourite for the Hennessy with VC Bet having been backed from 6-1 today. Trabolgan, who has displaced Our Vic as favourite, won two of his four races over fences last season including the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham.

VC Bet’s Neal Wilkins commented “There was a big move for Trabolgan last week at 14-1 on the back of the defection of stable companion Juveigneur and this continued support from the “right faces” suggests the horse will be making a bold showing on his seasonal reappearance in the Hennessy”.

VC Bet's


HENNESSY COGNAC GOLD CUP

Our Vic 5/1
Trabolgan 6/1
Cornish Rebel 8/1
King Harald 10/1
Red Devil Robert 14/1
Lord Of Illusion 14/1
Comply Or Die 14/1
Innox 16/1
Celestial Gold 16/1
Lord Transcend 16/1
Iris Bleu 16/1
L`Ami 16/1
Joes Edge 16/1
Pizarro 16/1
Kandjar D`Allier 16/1
Ollie Magern 16/1
Kelami 16/1
Redemption 16/1

Others on application ¼ odds 1,2,3,4

LINGO IMPRESSES AFTER LAY-OFF

JP McManus’ Lingo who had been off the course for 680 days after landing the 2004 Tolworth Hurdle shot into contention for the Champion Hurdle following his 3 1/2 length victory in Cheltenham’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. Gambled on from 8-1 down to 5-1 and attracting a single wager of £650,000 to £100,000 each way, Lingo was always travelling well under Tony McCoy and came clear after jumping the last to take the best part of a million pounds out of the ring.

In doing so he leapt To the fore-front of the market for the Champion Hurdle and was slashed from 33-1 down to 10-1 fourth favourite with VC Bet. Neal Wilkins from VC Bet commented “Lingo is very lightly raced because of his long absence and he showed that he possesses the right mixture of speed and stamina. He would not be the first massive improver to win a Champion Hurdle – Make a Stand comes quickly to mind”.

VC Bet's

Champion Hurdle 

Hardy Eustace 5/1
Harchibald 6/1
Brave Inca 7/1
Lingo 10/1
Arcalis 14/1
Faasel 14/1
Penzance 16/1
Macs Joy 20/1
Al Eile 20/1
Essex 20/1
Back In Front 20/1
Mephisto 20/1
Feathard Lady 25/1
Akilak 33/1
United 33/1

Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3.

CELTIC SON MAKES IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

Martin Pipe’s prolific hurdle winner Celtic Sun made a very impressive debut over fences at Wincanton and was slashed from 25-1 down to 10-1 second favourite with VC Bet for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham next March. He was hardly off the bridle to win in style by four lengths and may be seen out again at Cheltenham next week.

VC Bet’s Neal Wilkins commented “Although suited by the race conditions Celtic Son’s jumping was breathtaking for a horse seeing fences for the first time in public. He looks to have a real future over the bigger obstacles although owner David Johnson has warned us that his Over The Creek would be better than Celtic Son!”

VC Bet's


ROYAL AND SUNALLIANCE CHASE

Missed That 8/1
Celtic Son 10/1
Iris`s Gift 10/1
Racing Demon 10/1
Over The Creek 10/1
Monets Garden 12/1
Patriarch Express 14/1
Bewleys Berry 14/1
Tumbling Dice 16/1
Turpin Green 16/1
Brewster 20/1
Our Ben 20/1
Basilea Star 20/1
Gold Medallist 20/1
Kill Devil Hill 20/1

VC BET’S PUNTERS IN CLOVER

Breeders’ Cup punters were in clover after following the Racing Post Pricewise selections of James Willoughby with VC Bet. The Gibraltar based firm top offered early winners Folklore (11-4), Stevie Wonderboy (8-1) and Silver Train (10-1) and had massive liabilities running up on outside Gorella in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

VC Bet’s Chris Constable commented “The doubles and trebles had already copped and we were facing a huge payout if Gorella obliged in the Mile. Our hearts were in our mouths as she swooped late to claim third place. Fortunately the last two selections were well beaten but it was still a phenomenal piece of tipping by James Willoughby”.

Constable continued “We also honoured the recommended price of 8-1 about Stevie Wonderby which was Friday’s price and had not been updated in the grids – we were offering 13-2. Following a fabulous flat season of success for Tom Segal we then felt the full brunt from the transatlantic expert James Willoughby. Enough is enough!”

Derby aspirants Septimus and Winged Cupid were firmly put in their place in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster by Kevin Ryan’s 20-1 shock winner Palace Episode. Both were unbeaten in their two runs going into the prestigious Group One race.

Aidan O’Brien’s Septimus who had attracted very good support for the premier classic from 25-1 into 14-1 with VC Bet the day before the race was the first to come under pressure. Place Episode who had tracked the leaders led over a furlong from home and kept on really well to hold Winged Cupid by one and a half lengths with the heavily backed odds on favourite Septimus a similar distance away in third place.

A delighted Kevin Ryan, notching his second Group One success of the season, commented after the race “Yes he will get the Derby trip”.

VC Bet immediately quoted Palace Episode at 33-1 for next year’s Derby and offered him at 25-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. PR Manager Neal Wilkins said “Palace Episode started life in a Catterick maiden before winning at York’s Ebor fixture and there have been extenuating circumstances for his two subsequent defeats. His win was no fluke and he deserves his place in the ante-post market for the first two colts’ classics next season”.

2000 GUINEAS NEWMARKET

George Washington 9/4
Horatio Nelson 6/1
Sir Percy 12/1
Amadeus Wolf 20/1
City Of Troy 25/1
Pescatorio 25/1
Art Museum 25/1
Palace Episode 25/1
Hurrican Cat 33/1
Ivan Denisovich 33/1
Leo 33/1
Aussie Rules 40/1
El Fuego 40/1
To Sender 40/1
Nakeel 40/1

VODAFONE DERBY EPSOM Horatio Nelson 5/1
Sir Percy 14/1
George Washington 14/1
Nakheel 16/1
City Of Troy 25/1
Pescatorio 25/1
Fire And Rain 33/1
Aussie Rules 33/1
Palace Episode 33/1 Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3.
King in the Wars

Following his surprise victory over Gold Cup hero Kicking King at Punchestown last week War of Attrition was slashed from 25-1 down to 12-1 with VC Bet. Mouse Morris’ rising star has since attracted further support and is trading at 10-1.

VC Bet’s Neal Wilkins commented “There appeared to be no fluke about War of Attrition’s win last week although some onlookers were critical of Barry Geraghty’s ride in that he kept disappointing Kicking King and did not let him stride on at an important stage in the race. It would appear that War of Attrition would be suited by distances in excess of three miles and he looks a live threat to the favourite at this stage”.

VC Bet

Cheltenham Gold Cup

5/2 Kicking King
8 Best Mate
10 War Of Attrition
14 Iris’s Gift
16 Trabolgan
20 Kingscliff
20 Beef Or Salmon
25 Celestial Gold
25 Ollie Magern
25 Fundamentalist
25 Cyrlight
33 Lord Transcend
33 Sir Rembrandt
33 Take The Stand


Each Way ¼ 1-2-3 others on request

NANNINA STAKES HER CLAIM FOR 1,000 GUINEAS

John Gosden’s filly Nannina who was a brave winner of the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last week-end has since been heavily in demand for next year’s classic over the same course and distance with VC Bet.

Originally offered at 20-1 with the Gibraltar-based firm after her short head victory over the well fancied Alexandrova she has since been the medium of an ante-post gamble and is now trading at 12-1.

Nannina also confirmed by the manner of her victory her liking for a step up in trip to one mile that also vindicated the comments of Victor Chandler, chairman of VC Bet, in his regular Saturday column in the Daily Star’s StarBets supplement.

“I have always been a fan of John Gosden’s Nannina and this daughter of Medicean will take all the beating in the Fillies’ Mile”.


VC Bet

1,000 Guineas

Silca`s Sister
8/1
Flashy Wings
8/1
Rumplestiltskin
8/1
Nannina
12/1
Nidhaal
16/1
Chenchikova
20/1
Alexandrova
20/1
La Chunga
20/1
Confidential Lady
25/1
New Girlfriend
25/1
Nasheej
25/1
Mostaqeleh
25/1
Abigail Pett
25/1
Beauty Bright
33/1
Donna Blini
40/1
Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3.
SHAWANDA ON TARGET FOR ARC

News that Azamour will miss the Prix de L’Arc de Tromphe next week-end has seen further support for the Aga Khan’s main representative Shawanda with VC Bet.

“The Irish Oaks winner has attracted good support this week and is now a solid 3-1 second favourite behind Hurricane Run” commented VC Bet’s Neal Wilkins, who added “If both horses run up to their top form next Sunday in Paris we are in for one hell of a race. Throw Motivator into the mix with a return to his Derby winning form and it will certainly justify its position as the richest race in Europe”.

Connections of leading Arc hope Shawanda believe the talented three-year-old has yet to hit top gear this season.

Alain de Royer-Dupre's filly racked up her fifth consecutive win in only six outings with an easy success in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp this month.

Although Shawanda's official winning distance was three-quarters of a length, jockey Christophe Soumillon was cruising throughout the mile and a half and eased his partner right down at the line.

The Aga Khan's racing manager Georges Rimaud said: “We were very impressed with her in the Prix Vermeille but I think she is still improving.

"The trainer did not think she was 100 per cent fit last time because she was carrying a little bit of weight. Hopefully we can get her fine-tuned for the Arc."

The daughter of Sinndar has been delighting Royer-Dupre on the Chantilly gallops and is due to complete her preparations on Tuesday when she will have her final Arc workout

VC Bet

Hurricane Run 5/2
Shawanda 3/1
Motivator 4/1
Bago 8/1
Scorpion 10/1
Alkaased 12/1
Pride 16/1 
Cherry Mix 20/1
Westerner 25/1
Shirocco 25/1
Warrsan 33/1

Others on request. EW 1/4 1,2,3. EXPENSIVE SET-BACK FOR FLASHY

Flashy Wing’s unbeaten record came to an end when she was caught in the last strides of the Watership Down Stud Sales Race at Newbury on Saturday by the Chris Wall trained Expensive.

However she still retains her place at the head of the market for next year’s 1,000 Guineas with VC Bet and is unchanged at 7-1 despite the reversal at the Berkshire course.VC Bet Neal Wilkins reasoned “Flashy Wings raced up the middle of the track and had nothing left to race with after the two-furlong marker. The stands’ side appeared to be favoured and if she had anything to race with I am sure she would still be unbeaten. It must also be remembered that she was conceding 4lbs to the winner Expensive”.

Trainer Mick Channon had no regrets running his filly in the sales race rather than the more conventional route of the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket later in the autumn.

“I originally thought it was the right place to come and I still think it was the right place. We got beat and we have got to get on with it. It’s about the winner, not about us. We live to fight another day”.

Channon was putting a brave face on it having also suffered another recent setback when losing his other 1,000 Guineas contender Silca’s Sister to Godolphin.

1,000 Guineas VC Bet

7-1 Flashy Wings
8-1 Rumplestiltskin
10-1 Silca’s Sister
20-1 La Chunga
20-1 Nidhaal
20-1 Chenchikova
25-1 Mostaqeleh
25-1 New Girlfriend
25-1 Nasheej
25-1 Confidential Lad
33-1 and upwards others

1/4 odds 1,2,3 O'Brien 2,000 Domination

Aidan O’Brien’s stable continues to dominate the betting for next year’s 2,000 Guineas and his National Stakes winner George Washington consolidated his position at the head of the market for next year’s classic with VC Bet.

He remains their 4-1 favourite after overcoming early problems in running and that position seems justified according to PR Manager Neal Wilkins who commented “George Washington appeared to stumble after coming out of the stalls and Kieren Fallon gave him plenty of time to recover. He did just that despite hanging to the left and clearly has immense talent and has set a standard for the others to beat”.

O’Brien who also scored in the Listed race with Art Museum, who made it two out of two and is quoted at 25-1 for the 2,000 Guineas, is responsible for five of the first six in the ante-post betting.

VC Bet 2,000 Guineas

4 George Washington
12 Horatio Nelson
16 City Of Troy
20 Pescatorio
25 Ivan Denisovich
25 Art Museum
25 Prince Of Light
33 Morghim
33 To Sender
33 Sir Percy
33 Amadeus Wolf
33 El Fuego
33 Atlantic Waves


Each Way 1/4 odds 1-2-3 Others On Request Massive Entries for Top Sprint Prize