PUNTERS were in a state of panic today as bookies suspended betting on two huge Cheltenham Festival fancies.
Willie Mullins’ Allegorie De Vassy was a sharp drifter on the exchanges having been favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins looks like seeing another of his Festival favourites being out
Bet365 were among the bookies closing down the market, although no official word had spread through of the reason for the drift.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Journey With Me, a top tip for the Ballymore, was another to drift markedly, suggesting he was out as well.
That means Brandy Love has been placed favourite for the Mares’ Novice, the horse who finished second to Allegorie De Vassy when they met at Fairyhouse last month.
While on the exchanges, Sir Gerhard was 3.55 favourite for the Ballymore, with Ginto second-fav ahead of Dysart Dynamo.
Journey With Me’s price for the Albert Bartlett, another race in which he was liked, had shot up to 40 at the time of writing.
One punter said: “Looks like Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle favourite Allegorie De Vassy is out of the Cheltenham Festival.”
Mullins has already been dealt one blow with Arkle favourite Ferny Hollow ruled out through injury.
At the time of writing, Allegorie De Vassy was out to 16.0 on the exchange.
The horse had been around 3-1 for the race earlier in the morning.
Journey With Me was out to 14.5 on the exchange, with one anguished punter saying: “Ruthless finding out a horse is out of Cheltenham by the exchanges like, Allegorie De Vassy and Journey With Me.”
More to follow.
