Hell’s Bay Ruled Out of Cheltenham Festival
- By A.J. Ryder on March 3, 2011 20:43 GMT
The ante post market for the Jewson Novices’ Chase has been thrown into a tizzy thanks to the withdrawl of leading fancy Hell’s Bay. The nine year-old son of Supreme Leader had looked to be progressing nicely towards a major festival run on the back of an impressive Grade 2 score over Medermit in the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Colin Tizzard’s charge had been trading as low as 7/1 and was considered to be a strong contender alongside the likes of Captain Chris and Noble Prince. The withdrawal has prompted a run on Philip Hobbs’ Wishfull Thinking who has dropped down to 6/1.
As it currently stands, Captain Chris is now the slim favourite with a 5/1 margin being floated by several major bookmakers.
Hell’s Bay conditioner spoke to the Racing Post this morning and reiterated that the bay gelding’s career was not under threat and that the withdrawal was a cautionary one. “We scanned him this morning and he has a touch a leg. There is only a small hole… and it’s enough to stop us running him at Cheltenham.”
The £3,000 purchase has gone on to amass over £53,200 in earnings and will likely be back in action next November.
