Of the three portfolio selections Walkon is the only one to have run but all three are now trading at shorter prices than when advised. Big Zeb is now 12/1 (advised 14/1) and is as short as 8/1 in a place. What A Friend is now 7/1 (advised 10/1) across the board and Walkon is into 5/1 (advised 9/1). These best prices are all available with Paddy Power who as you may have heard have already paid out on Master Minded for the Champion Chase!
Walkon followed the script on Saturday. In my post of 5 January I wrote ‘Should he win, and I expect him too, then he will be challenging for favouritism.’ The 25/1 offered after Newbury is now looking even more tasty and I hope you took the 9/1 as advised here.
It was a gutsy victory in very tough ground that will have given him good experience for the big day. Connections looked very happy in the paddock afterwards and it’s all systems go for the 13 March. I can’t see him being out of the first three and he is going to be very difficult to pass when launched by Choc Thornton up the hill.
Big Zeb is due to run in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. His trainer achieved a famous victory with Brave Inca in the Irish Champion Hurdle yesterday so let’s hope for another big race win for Colm Murphy at the weekend. A good run will put Big Zeb firmly on course for the Queen Mother and would result in further contraction of his odds.
What A Friend is likely to head straight for the RSA Chase. Despite staying in his box he is now three points shorter than when advised here at 10/1. No strong rivals have appeared on the scene and the form of his Uttoxeter win is turning out to be very strong with two subsequent winners and two seconds emerging from the race.
A post outlining my Arkle fancy will appear here later.
