The Package – one of the biggest ante-post gambles for this year’s Cheltenham Festival remains at the head of the betting for the William Hill Trophy after the five-day declaration stage today.

David Pipe landed a tremendous coup when taking the 2008 running with An Accordion, and looks set to punish the sponsors again this year with a 11-2 from 14-1 gamble on his seven-year-old novice.

The David Johnson-owned gelding transposed initial ante-post favourite Bensalem late last week, and Alan King’s charge remains Hill’s 7-1 second-favourite. Novices’ have struck a rich vein of form in the 3m1f handicap in recent years with Fork Lightning, Dun Doire, and the ill-fated Witchita Lineman all obliging for the beginners generation.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’The powers at Pond House are lining-up to strike the bookies once again after this epic gamble with The Package. We could be donning our black armbands on the opening day if results end-up going in the punters’ favour.’’

Other positive movers in the race include Character Building, now a 12-1 chance having been 20-1 when the market opened.  Fingeronthepulse, The Tother One, and New Alco – who placed second in this race on his penultimate start in 2008- have all proved popular since Hill’s non-runner, no-bet concession began.

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William Hill Trophy (Sponsors Bet): 11-2 The Package, 6-1 Bensalem, 12-1 Character Building,  Theatrical Moment, The Tother One, 14-1 Calgary Bay, Exmoor Ranger,  Galant Nuit, Niche Market, Razor Royale, 20-1 Casey Jones, Fingeronthepulse, Great Endeavour, Isn’t that Lucky, Jayo, Kicks For Free, Nenuphar Collonges, Ogee 25-1 Chief Dan George, Joe Lively, Khachaturian, Lenabane, Lochan Lacha, Monkerhostin, New Alco, Our Vic, Palypso de Creek, Seven is my Number, Tatenen 33-1 bar(EW 1/4 1,2,3,4)