Former Champion Hurdle sensation Celestial Halo was denied the perfect introduction to fences when he crashed out four from home in the Best Mate Beginners' Chase at Exeter on Tuesday.
Sign up with Ladbrokes through Cheltenhampro using bonus code F25 and get your free £25 bet on the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. Get your ante post bets on now, for free!
Ladbrokes removed Paul Nicholls’ star from their 2011 Arkle betting as a result and made him a 16/1 shot for the World Hurdle at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.
The superstar was fine after the race but Nicholls explained: "I'll have to talk to (owner) Andy Stewart and see what we do. Plenty of good ones have fallen on their debut and we still have the option of going back over hurdles.
"I've slightly had it in the back of my mind that he's by Galileo and he's not chasing bred.
"He has always been very fast over his hurdles but he might not take to fences. We'll see."
Meanwhile, David Williams of Ladbrokes explained to Cheltenhampro: "Celestial Halo's failure to finish over the Exeter fences has refreshed the idea that he might be better over longer distances and hurdles. We know he's got bundles of talent and although plenty will hinge on plans for Big Bucks, we think a tilt at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle can't be ruled out."
NATIONAL HUNT RACES 2011
Ladbrokes odds
King George
3m, Kempton Park, Boxing Day
6/4 Kauto Star, 5 Long Run, 8 Planet Of Sound, 10 Imperial Commander, 14 Sizing Europe, 16 Albertas Run, 25 Madison Du Berlais, 25 Nacarat (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
Arkle Chase
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2011
10 Medermit, 12 Get Me Out Of Here, 14 Captain Chris, 16 Loosen My Load, 16 Oscar Whisky, 16 Sang Bleu, 20 Thousand Stars, 25 Spirit River, 25 Finians Rainbow, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
RSA Chase
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2011
8 Mikael D'Haguenet, 12 Time For Rupert, 12 Reve De Sivola, 16 Tell Massini, 16 Wayward Prince, 20 Quel Esprit, 20 Restless Harry, 20 Quantitativeeasing, 20 Wishful Thinking, 33 Enterprise Park, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
Champion Hurdle
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2011
3 Binocular, 5 Hurricane Fly, 10 Get Me Out Of Here, 10 Khyber Kim, 14 Dunguib, 14 Peddlers Cross, 14 Solwhit, 16 Menorah, 16 Soldatino, 20 Overturn, 20 Go Native, 25 General Miller, 25 Barizan, others on request, 33 Cue Card (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
Queen Mother Champion Chase
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2011
3 Big Zeb, 5 Master Minded, 7 Sizing Europe, 8 Tatatiano, 10 Forpadydeplasterer, 12 Golden Silver, 14 Captain Cee Bee, 16 Mad Max, 20 Somersby, 25 Osana, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
Ladbrokes World Hurdle
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2011
Evs Big Buck’s, 6 Quevega, 7 Zaynar, 8 Peddlers Cross, 16 Celestial Halo, 16 Karabak, 16 Reve De Sivola, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
Cheltenham Gold Cup
3m 2f, Cheltenham Festival, March 2011
4 Kauto Star, 5 Imperial Commander, 12 Punchestowns, 12 Denman, 12 What A Friend, 20 Burton Port, 20 Planet Of Sound, 20 Cooldine, 20 Sizing Europe, 20 Long Run, 25 Joncol, 40 Carruthers, others on request, (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
The Grand National
4m 4f, Aintree, April 2011
14 Don’t Push It, 25 Big Fella Thanks, 25 Black Apalachi, 25 Bluesea Cracker, 25 Ballabriggs, 25 Merigo, 33 Backstage, 33 Maljimar, 33 State Of Play, 33 Niche Market, 33 Tricky Trickster, 40 Character Building, 40 Alfa Beat,40 Chief Dan George, 40 Mon Mome, 50 Hello Bud, others on request, (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)
