Laurina and Rather Be both backed for weekend success at Cheltenham

Latest International Meeting odds and betting

The Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and the International Hurdle are the two standout races on an action-packed two-day card at Cheltenham this weekend.

Both renewals take place on the Saturday of the International Meeting, which gets going with seven intriguing contests on Friday afternoon. All the action is live on ITV4, and we can provide a trading update ahead of the weekend.

International Hurdle

Willie Mullins holds the ace card in the International with Laurina. Last year’s Dawn Run winner is unbeaten since switching to the trainer in November 2017 and will go off as favourite.

Fellow Cheltenham Festival winner Summerville Boy is the current 4/1 second-favourite, ahead of former winners The New One and Old Guard at 8/1 and 10/1 respectively. All eyes will be on Laurina, though, who could lay down a serious marker for the Champion Hurdle if she can win here.

“Although Buveur D’Air is already odds-on for the Champion Hurdle, Laurina is his closest rival in the ante-post betting. If she can justify short-priced favouritism in what could be a high-class International Hurdle, she will only cement that position in the Cheltenham market,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup

The SP favourite hasn’t won this race since Poquelin landed the contest for the first time all the way back in 2009. So punters beware the gamble currently developing on current 10/3 favourite Rather Be.

Nicky Henderson’s raider has gained further support in the market to put himself comfortably ahead of Baron Alco at 5s and 2016 winner Frodon at 8/1. The latter will have Bryony Frost on board, who has developed a habit of landing big pots in front of the ITV cameras.