Alan King’s decision to scratch Invictus from the Cheltenham Festival causes disappointment among the bookmakers
The six-year-old gelding, Invictus, will not be competing in the Cheltenham Festival because of an injury he sustained recently. His condition has not improved, and he will not be able to recover in time for the festival.
His trainer Alan King told the media that "Invictus will not run at Cheltenham. I'm not sure if he will run again this season. We may put him away but no decision has been made on that."
The son of Flemensfirth, out of Clashwilliam Girl, has secured placed finishes in the last five races.
He finished in third place in his season debut. He raced at a steady pace in the Grade 2 Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices’ Chase (Registered As Dipper Novices’ Steeple Chase), at Cheltenham on 1st January, 2012. He finished after Champion
Court and Solix.
He made his owners Mr. & Mrs. R. Kelvin Hughes proud of his most recent performance at Ascot. He defeated, Bobs Worth, by 3 lengths in the Grade 2 Sodexo Prestige Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase, on 18th February, 2012. He comfortably crossed the
wire claiming the victory.
The bookmakers have not reacted well to Invictus’s absence in this race, as he was expected to exceed expectations.
Grands Crus is attracting major bets for the Cheltenham Festival. Trained by David Pipe, the seven-year-old has already completed a hat-trick.
He is in extremely good form and shows promise for his seasonal debut. The bookmakers are keeping a keen eye on him as he might be able to win them the gold.
He aced the Grade 1 Williamhill.com Feltham Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) at Kempton on 26th December, 2011. He entered the race as a favourite, and defeated Silviniaco Conti by 2 ¼ lengths.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, Join Together is one of the top contenders competing in the Cheltenham Festival. His progress throughout 2011 has been commendable.
He succeeded over race favourite, Mossley, by a huge margin of 12 lengths in the Ryman Stationer Novices’ Chase, held at Cheltenham on 10th December, 2011.
Invictus’s absence from the festival is disappointing, but the Cheltenham Festival is known to deliver some exciting races nonetheless.
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