Roman Ark could be Trophy favourite
Roman Ark was the subject of a massive gamble today with the sponsors for Saturday’s totesport Trophy and is now 7-1 from 11-1 for the Newbury showpiece.
“We’ve had two results already with the withdrawals of Mansony and Albuhera but the worst loser is now Roman Ark,” said totesport spokesman Damien Walker.
“The totesport Trophy has a history of huge gambles and we appear to be witnessing one developing with Roman Ark.
“When we opened betting on the race at the end of January, Roman Ark was a 33-1 shot but he has been backed at all rates down to his current price of 7-1.
“It would be no surprise to see him take over favouritism from Essex if the support continues.”
Roman Ark is 7-1 with VC Bet, 8-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill, and 9-1 with Coral.
Malcolm Jefferson’s star novice will be taking on experienced handicappers for the first time in the £125,000 (€181,400) contest, for which a maximum field of 27 has been declared.
Roman Ark has won his last three starts – all on heavy ground – in the style of a very progressive individual.
His latest success, which was in a Grade Two event at Haydock Park, came after the Trophy weights were published and Jefferson’s grey will be 14lb well-in on official ratings at the weekend.
Any rain would also help his cause and Jefferson said: “They’ve told me at Newbury that there’s a good chance they’ll get a drop of rain but it will be good jumping ground.
“We’ll never know how he’ll go on it until we run him. He’ll have to take his chance and he’ll maybe love it – it might not make any difference to him at all.
“They’ll go a good pace but he’s a horse who has shown plenty of speed when he’s run on the other ground so we’ll just have to see. He’s a great jumper as well.
“He’s in great fettle. He’s been a fit, healthy horse all season. He’s gone up in the ratings but he’s a real nice horse.”
Calatagan will also represent the Malton trainer in the Trophy and he continued: “He’s in great order.
"He hadn’t run for nearly two months when he ran (unplaced) at Kempton the other day.
“Calatagan is a grand little horse but he’s probably better on sharp tracks than on big galloping tracks.
“But there aren’t a lot of places to go with him because he’s rated 133.
“He went up 11lb for winning what was not a high-class race at Cheltenham which was a lot.
“Newbury isn’t his ideal track but they’ve got to run somewhere.”
Steve Gollings’ Smurfit Champion Hurdle hope Royal Shakespeare heads the weights on 11st 12lb, 1lb above Geos, who won the big handicap in 2000 and again last year.
His trainer Nicky Henderson has also won the Trophy with Sharpical and Landing Light in the last seven years.
He runs Non So as well with stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald opting for the seven-year-old, who has been chasing this season, with Tom Phelan taking the ride on Geos.
Michael O’Brien’s ante-post favourite Essex heads a strong Irish challenge for a race they won two years ago with Spirit Leader.
The other Irish-trained runners are Noel Meade’s Power Elite, the John Queally-trained Al Eile and Tiger Cry from Arthur Moore’s County Kildare yard.
Champion trainer Martin Pipe has his usual powerful team with seven runners.
They are 2002 winner Copeland, Tony McCoy’s mount Tamarinbleu, Polar Red, the Timmy Murphy-ridden Escompteur, Desert Air, Bongo Fury and Idaho D’ox.
The going at Newbury is currently described as good.
Totesport Trophy betting:
Totesport: 4-1 Essex, 7-1 Al Aile, Roman Ark, Tamarinbleu, 14-1 Monte Cinto, Tiger Cry, 16-1 Non So, 18-1 Power Elite, 22-1 Hawadeth, Howle Hill, 25-1 Dalaram, Idole First, 28-1 Escompteur, 33-1 bar.
William Hill: 100-30 Essex, 7-1 Al Eile, 8-1 Roman Ark, Tamarinbleu, 12-1 Tiger Cry, 14-1 Monte Cinto, 16-1 Non So, 20-1 Howle Hill, Power Elite, 28-1 Fenix, Geos, Idole First, 33-1 bar.
Coral: 4-1 Essex, 7-1 Tamarinbleu, 8-1 Al Eile, 9-1 Roman Ark, 12-1 Tiger Cry, 14-1 Monte Cinto, Non So, 16-1 Power Elite, 20-1 Howle Hill, 25-1 Royal Shakespeare, 28-1 Dalaram, Escompteur, Hawadeth, Nawamees, Zibeline, 33-1 bar.
Ladbrokes: 7-2 Essex, 7-1 Al Eile, Tamarinbleu, 8-1 Roman Ark, 12-1 Tiger Cry, 14-1 Monte Cinto, 16-1 Non So, 20-1 Howle Hill, Power Elite, 25-1 Bongo Fury, Dalaram, Geos, Zibeline, 33-1.
VC Bet: 9-2 Essex, 7-1 Roman Ark, 8-1 Tamarinbleu, Al Eile, 12-1 Tiger Cry, Monte Cinto, 16-1 Power Elite, Howle Hill, Non So, 20-1 Geos, Dalaram, Claymore, 25-1 Bongo Fury, Zabenz, Escompteur, 33-1 bar.
