El Fabiolo has layers on the run after weekend when he and Jonbon bagged big prizes
Ladies and gentlemen, we have our second odds-on favourite for the Cheltenham Festival. I refer, of course, to El Fabiolo, who cruised around Cork in the Hilly Way Chase on Sunday and now stands alongside Constitution Hill as the horses for whom March glory is more probable than not.
If you're feeling hard to please, you might argue there was nothing terribly exciting about what he did. Here was a horse rated 172 giving 10lb and a comfortable beating to Fil Dor, rated 150. El Fabiolo was 1-5 for Cork's Grade 2 and won like it.
For those who decided to try buying money by taking the short odds, there would have been at least one hairy moment when he got close to the last, his nose brushed the turf and his various joints flexed in the effort to keep him upright. For half a second, you'd have been holding your breath.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- Excuses abound for Lockinge flops - but how much should we trust them next time?
- Favourite-backers take another soaking as Longchamp follows Newmarket in providing Classic shocks
- Drama-packed pair of Newmarket Classics had it all, even if the winners were tricky to find
- Riding for Willie Mullins a rare privilege - but Danny Mullins deserves plenty of kudos
- What punters must learn from the Ayr action: this Willie Mullins character can train a bit
- Excuses abound for Lockinge flops - but how much should we trust them next time?
- Favourite-backers take another soaking as Longchamp follows Newmarket in providing Classic shocks
- Drama-packed pair of Newmarket Classics had it all, even if the winners were tricky to find
- Riding for Willie Mullins a rare privilege - but Danny Mullins deserves plenty of kudos
- What punters must learn from the Ayr action: this Willie Mullins character can train a bit