Top layers pinpoint the horses they most fear

“SANTINI is easily the worst result in the book in the RSA Chase at the Festival. We have taken over 60 per cent of stakes on this selection. In the Gold Cup, with so many others proving disappointing this season, last season’s RSA winner

PRESENTING PERCY continues to attract support and is now our 4-1 clear favourite.

“Others who have been well backed include PAISLEY PARK, in what looks a wide-open Stayers’ Hurdle. He has done nothing wrong this season.

LALOR has proved popular with punters, particularly after his Cheltenham success in November for Kayley Woollacott.

And there was good money for ANNAMIX in the Sky Bet Supreme

Novices’ Hurdle.

“He was ante-post favourite until finishing second on debut.

“In the Grand National, the one for money has been VINTAGE CLOUDS who is being aimed at the race by Sue Smith.” “THE two biggest ante-post liabilities for the Cheltenham Festival are CHAMP in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and Might Bite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Champ could deliver a knockout blow in the Ballymore, as we’ve laid him pretty heavily at as big as 25-1 after he won at Perth and he’s now the clear 5-1 favourite.

“But even though MIGHT BITE is also a huge liability, we’re pretty comfortable about it and think he could help us off the canvas after his disappointing effort in the King George. The chunky wagers were coming at around the 7-1 or 8-1 mark but he’s now drifted like a barge to 12-1.

“In the National, VINTAGE CLOUDS is the one. He’s been backed at both 40-1 and 33-1 and is now 25-1, which is our cosecond favourite.” “SANTINI in the RSA Chase has been the long-time ante-post favourite for the race. He was beaten in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas. However, punters have not given up on him and he continues to be well supported (already 7-2 from 4-1 since his defeat) with the return to a stiffer track likely to suit.

“Faugheen fell at Leopardstown over Christmas behind Apple’s Jade, but given connections chose to run him over three miles at that meeting, the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham looks the likely target and punters are backing him to roll back the years.

“ROAD TO RESPECT got no luck whatsoever when beaten at Leopardstown over Christmas, having been hampered a few times. He finished fourth in the Gold Cup last year when testing conditions would not have suited and punters are hoping for a drier forecast this year.

“Our biggest loser at the moment in the Grand National is MALL DINI. Only seen once this season, it looks like his campaign may be planned around Aintree rather than Cheltenham this year. He’s run once over an inadequate trip without headgear on so expect to see the blinkers back on in the spring.”