Elliott Edges Betting To Be King Of Cheltenham

Gordon Elliott is a narrow leader in the market to be crowned top trainer at Cheltenham next week with Willie Mullins drifting to the highest price he has started a Festival for years.

The Meath-based trainer, who has favourites Apple’s Jade, Delta Work and Tiger Roll amongst his team set to go to post, leads the BoyleSports betting at 5/4 to finish the Festival as the trainer with most winners.

Nicky Henderson is Elliott’s closest rival in the betting at 13/8, with the Seven Barrows handler hoping to score a crucial win over his Irish rival on day one with Buveur d’Air a joint 2/1 favourite with Apple’s Jade in the Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins meanwhile is out at 3/1 after he admitted he wasn’t going into this year’s Festival with his strongest team, however he has singled out Mares’ Hurdle hopeful Benie Des Dieux (10/11) as his biggest chance of the week. Mullins had started as a 5/2 shot with BoyleSports but is seeing a lot more interest at his current price of 3/1.

3/1 is the biggest price we’ve seen about Willie Mullins going into a Festival for many a year

…although he is seeing interest in that price and he may well come in again before the tape rises on Tuesday afternoon.

Tiger Roll is becoming one of the Irish bankers of the Festival in the Cross Country race and along with some other great fancies, it’s Gordon Elliott who is by far seeing the vast majority of support to be the leading trainer next week.

*Prices correct at time of publication.