Hunterview all the rage in Imperial Cup market

SALUT FLO was on Tuesday usurped at the head of most bookmakers' Paddy Power Imperial Cup markets by stablemate Hunterview, with the sponsors going shortest at just 4-1.

Like Paddy Power, Betfred, Boylesports, Totesport and Victor Chandler quoted the David Pipe-trained four-year-old at 7-1 on Tuesday morning.

However, they are now split on the Cheltenham Festival entrant's chances with Betfred and Victor Chandler offering 5-1, Totesport going 9-2 and Boylesports joining Stan James with a best price of 11-2. 

Support for Hunterview has also spread to the Fred Winter market, where William Hill have trimmed the former Flat performer to 10-1 from 12-1 to land the bonus.

Recent Doncaster scorer Salut Flo has been unchanged across the boards for the Imperial Cup and remains a general 6-1 chance.

The ever-changing complexion of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle was further muddied by the newsthat one-time favourite Solwhit is "less than 50-50" to take part and he has been pushed out again to 11-2 with Victor Chandler and 6-1 with Sportingbet.

More confusion comes down the list with Victor Chandler cutting Zaynar to 11-2 (from 6-1) and Betfred going 7-1 (from 13-2), while the mini gamble on Starluck continues with Victor Chandler shortening to 12-1 (from 14-1).

Perhaps second-guessing trainer Nicky Henderson, Ladbrokes punters have backed Quantitativeeasing for two of his three potential festival engagements and the firm has been forced to cut him to 8-1 (from 10-1) for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and to 10-1 (from 12-1) for the Coral Cup.

In contrast, William Hill, who go no-runner no-bet on Wednesday, have reported heavy support for the JP McManus-owned hopeful in the above contests and the Neptune Investment Management Hurdle, though they stilloffer 14-1 about him for the latter.

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