Cotswold Chase betting odds: Protektorat heads market

Rather than scare away the opposition this coming Saturday, though, the spate of recent abandonments and other issues mean he will face a keen test of his credentials.

“I’m not saying Protektorat is an absolute certainty as if your man turns up (Noble Yeats) he is a shorter price in the Gold Cup, rightly or wrongly, whatever your opinion is. It is going to be enlightening to see them lining up against each other,” said Skelton.

“Noble Yeats was very good in the Many Clouds Chase which you would expect a Grand National winner to be able to do.

“You can’t deny Noble Yeats’ ability and stamina and I don’t think he will be inconvenienced by his lack of experience at the track. However, Protektorat has just turned into a real good stayer and that is very important around Cheltenham.”

Protektorat oozed class at Haydock and Skelton, who has his horses firing on all cylinders after a quiet Christmas, said: “I think the win at Haydock suggested that he had improved from last season which we had seen at home but he still had to confirm that on the track.

“We’ve not changed anything in his training regime just as they get that bit older and stronger you can do that bit more with them that is the truth.

“He went through the race very well and picked up very well. I was surprised how he scampered clear after the last, which I thought was very good. All in all it was just good to see him come out and win like that.”

Ahoy Senor has been given the chance to get some more Cheltenham experience and is 15/2 in the Cotswold Chase odds.

Lucinda Russell’s stable star was second in his sole appearance at the track when chasing home L’Homme Presse at last year’s Festival but went on to reverse that form when scooping Grade One honours at Aintree the following month.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ahoy Senor is a Grade One winner over fences

A sparkling performance from @lucindavrussell's stable star who retains his unbeaten record at @AintreeRaces under Derek Fox, slamming his rivals in the Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase 🏆 #RandoxGrandNational pic.twitter.com/DNaWMIue9A

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 8, 2022

He was last seen fading into fifth in the King George at Kempton but the Kinross-based handler has reported the Gold Cup in March is still the dream.

“Ahoy Senor is in great form,” said Russell. “I was really pleased with his run at Kempton and he seems to be growing up – I was very happy with him.

“The Gold Cup is still the dream and I’m really looking forward to seeing him run again. I think he’s on the up again now and we’ve always thought he was a really good horse.”

Nicky Henderson has won this twice in the last three years and is represented by 12/1 outsider Dusart, while Frodon won this contest in 2019 and is 13/2 for a repeat. Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson) completes the list of entries.

Cotswold Chase betting odds

13/8 Protektorat

2/1 Noble Yeats

13/2 Frodon

15/2 Ahoy Senor, Sounds Russian

12/1 Dusart

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All odds and market correct at date of publication