Bellshill Enters Gold Cup Reckoning After Nailing Road To Respect

Bellshill shot up the antepost betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a nail-biting victory in the Irish equivalent on Sunday.

Only four went to post for the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown but it didn’t prevent a fascinating spectacle as SP favourite Road To Respect and the eventual winner played out a thrilling finish in which the pair looked barely separable as they crossed the line.

Road To Respect, a short-head 2nd after the result went to the judge, remains a 12/1 shot for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month, but winner Bellshill has shot up the betting to 12/1 from 20/1 with us.

Apple’s Jade meanwhile has seen a further burst in support in the Champion Hurdle market after trainer Gordon Elliott hinted she would be aimed there instead of the Mares’ Hurdle.

She had already closed into 4/1 from 7/1 after her dominant Leopardstown victory on Saturday, but she is now into 5/2 with favourite Buveur d’Air eased to 7/4 from 13/8.

*Prices correct at time of publication