The Package: favourite could cost William Hill 'a fortune' if he wins Trophy
PICTURE: Mark CranhamHills fear The Package after Trophy gamble
THE PACKAGE, 11-2 favourite with the sponsors for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, could cost the sponsors a fortune if he lands the ante-post gamble on Tuesday.
William Hill announced they are set for a hefty payout if Johnson's seven-year-old, who opened as a 14-1 chance, is successful.
Spokeswoman Kate Miller said: "If The Package lands the ante-post gamble, it will be a six-figure loser for us and we only expect it to get worse on the day.
"With him being a novice and fitting in with a lot of recent trends, he ticks a lot of boxes and he will be our worst handicap result of the week if he wins. I can't see anything else other than him going off favourite."
Among the 55 horses to stand their ground at Wednesday's six-day stage is general 6-1 second-favourite Bensalem, last season's Kim Muir winner Character Building and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Theatrical Moment, whose stable were victorious in the race 12 months ago with the ill-fated Wichita Lineman.
In the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, hat-trick-seeking Garde Champetre headed the 25-strong list at the forfeit stage. Garde Champetre's trainer Enda Bolger has five horses entered in the race, including previous winner Heads Onthe Ground and L'Ami.
Nina Carberry will be bidding for a fourth consecutive win in the race when she partners Garde Champetre while Heads Onthe Ground will be ridden by her brother, Paul.
Monkerhostin, Lacdoudal and Oceanos Des Obeaux - Philip Hobbs's entries in the Cross Country Chase next Tuesday - pleased their trainer in a spin round the unique circuit on Wednesday morning.
Monkerhostin, who showed he can still cut it at the age of 13 by winning a handicap chase at Sandown last month, has a first-day alternative in the shape of the William Hill Trophy, and a decision about which race he contests will be made nearer the time.
Hobbs said: "Monkerhostin was very good indeed, and all three are possibles for the Cross Country."
Quevega, an impressive 14-length winner of last season's Grade 2 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, was included in the list of 21 acceptors for this year's race. In her bid for a repeat victory she will face stiff competition from the Colm-Murphy trainer Voler La Vedette, who swerves the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
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