Samcro doubtful for Champion Hurdle, but not out yet
From a punter’s perspective, the key detail to bear in mind from yesterday’s news about Samcro is that he has not actually been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival yet. I find this slightly surprising, given that a lung infection has just been discovered and treatment begun with the Champion Hurdle just two months away, but there you are; in amongst all the detail, connections have explicitly saved for themselves the option of running the horse, as they are fully entitled to do.
“He’ll be kept in the Champion Hurdle in case things go real well,” was one of the lines attributed this week to Eddie O’Leary, racing manager to Samcro’s owner. And that’s the bottom line, rather than all the stuff about how very doubtful he is.
If you’re a fan of Samcro, don’t be backing something else for the Champion Hurdle on the assumption that he won’t turn up. The possibility exists, however negative the headlines out there, that the vaunted chestnut will be among the field when the tape goes up on Tuesday 12 March.
Perhaps this is the moment to say that I won’t be the least bit interested in backing him if he does show up, even if he is by then said to be bouncing with rare health. Too many excuses are now required if you want to argue he’s the best two-miler around and there’s not much chance of him being a value price, given that he’s started favourite for every single race of his career, despite now being on a losing run of four.
But I don’t want you to be taken aback, or annoyed if he does show up. Stranger things have happened in horse racing, probably within the last few days. Anything is a possible runner until we’re past the final supplementary entry stage.
There’s an online headline out there today that says Samcro “will miss” the Festival, while the article beneath it accurately describes him as “doubtful”. He remains in most bookmaker lists at up to 25-1 and trades around 40-1 on the leading exchange.
Huntingdon: 1.00 Twenty Twenty 1.30 Precious Bounty 2.00 Wood Pigeon (nb) 2.30 Fret D’Estruval (nap) 3.00 Well Smitten 3.30 Etamine Du Cochet
Lingfield: 1.10 Dancing Jo 1.40 Delicate Kiss 2.10 Swift Approval 2.40 Ventura Blues 3.10 Minuty 3.40 Mercers
Sedgefield: 1.20 Best To Come 1.50 Ringaringarosie 2.20 Whiteoak Fleur 2.50 Instant Replay 3.20 Nortonthorpelegend 3.50 Dares To Dream
Wolverhampton: 4.10 Big Bad Lol 4.45 Roman De Brut 5.15 Rock Bottom 5.45 Tabou Beach Boy 6.15 Flaming Marvel 6.45 Betancourt 7.15 Hanati 7.45 Sir Ottoman
