Impressive Fairyhouse winner halves in price for Cheltenham Festival
Her jumping debut could hardly have gone any better
Sixandahalf has seen her odds for the Cheltenham Festival cut in half following an impressive victory in the SBK Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The five-year-old has been cut from 16/1 to 8/1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle by William Hill, while Paddy Power and Betfair cut her from 14/1 to 7/1.
Having claimed a Punchestown bumper in April, Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old went on to enjoy a successful stint on the Flat, scoring at Cork and Newmarket before finishing third in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh.
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Her jumping debut could hardly have gone any better, with Sixandahalf (2-1) tracking long-time leader Qualimita before cruising through to take over approaching the second-last.
Two neat jumps put the race to bed and Keith Donoghue did not have to push her out to score by a dozen lengths.
“She jumped really well and you couldn’t ask for better," Cromwell said.
“I’m not sure where we go from here. She’s not very big, but she has an engine, a great attitude and jumps well.
“Hopefully, she’ll end up going to the mares’ novice (at Cheltenham) ultimately.”
When asked if she could go back on the Flat during the summer, he added: “Absolutely, she’s a very versatile mare.”
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “William Hill’s racing ambassador Gavin Cromwell spoke with confidence ahead of his mare Sixandahalf’s hurdles debut at Fairyhouse, and she more than lived up to expectations. Delivering an outstanding performance with flawless jumping and a powerful finish, she stormed 12 lengths clear of the runner-up.
“As a result, we’ve halved her odds for the Grade 2 contest to 8/1 from 16/1. While Willie Mullins’ Maughreen remains the 4/1 favourite, Cromwell’s mare now looks a serious contender.”
Bacchanalian justified 4-5 favouritism with the minimum of fuss in the Racing TV Club Day At Fairyhouse Hurdle, with Declan Queally’s charge making all to score by four and a quarter lengths.
Winning jockey Sean O’Keeffe said: “That was very nice. He popped out nice in front and jumped away well.
“He had a nice jump at the second-last when I wanted him and kind of put the race to bed. He just popped the last and came home well enough."
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