Monster Cambridgeshire gamble unfolding as runner backed from 80-1 into 9-1

The Keith Dalgleish trained Chichester, who has an entry in the bet365 Cambridgeshire on Saturday has been smashed off the boards midweek. As big as 80-1 with one firm a few days ago, the four-year-old is now as short as 9-1 with the race sponsors.

Punters have come for the gelding since bolting up by six and a half lengths in a handicap at Ayr last Thursday. He is well in at the weights as he will rise 12lb in the BHA ratings, but he will carry just a 4lb penalty at Newmarket.

The £120,000 1m1f feature is a top handicap and when the Racing Post spoke to his owner, he sounded very surprised about the unfolding gamble.

Owner quotes

“That is amazing,” said Sir Ian Good, who is chairman of Hamilton Park racecourse. “We entered him way back on the basis of seeing how he develops, but it was more in hope than expectation.

“He’s been a great horse for us, but I don’t bet on him – I feel that would be unlucky, so I never do.

“We bought him at the Horses in Training sale last October and I just love watching him run, and as far as I’m concerned if he goes and runs a good race and comes back safely that is it.”

“It is dependent on ground conditions,” he stressed. “I’m not keen for him to plough through mud or anything like that, but the forecast says it should be fine.”

But will the ground be fine?

The ground could well be sound for Saturday. The forecast is decent but connections wouldn’t want the course to be watered too much between now and the race. With ground that is currently good to soft, good in places, he could do with it drying out further. A horse that likes a fast surface, he may be well in but he will also require the weather gods to be on his side.

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