Credit: CAROLINE NORRIS
RacingPost.com
The Cheltenham festival is fast approaching with virtually all horses now having made their final race course preparations. This is set to be one of the most popular punting events of the season alongside the Grand national. Punters have already been busy looking to bet with bet365 on the Grand National 2019 as well as Cheltenham. There are a number of horses that have been very impressive, and are short prices for their respective races. One horse that continues to come in for support and many have put it up as the banker of the upcoming festival, is the Joseph O’Brien trained Sir Erec. He is now no bigger than 5/4 for the opening race on day four, and is likely to be part of many people’s ante post bets over the four days. Here we cover the credentials of the 2019 Irish banker.
Sired by Camelot he was expected to have a successful flat career and in 2018 he quickly progressed into being one of the stars of the staying division. This included a staying on third on Champions day in the Long distance cup to Stradivarius. That performance earning the horse an RPR rating of 114, so big things were expected over obstacles. Following this he was acquired by owner JP McManus and moved from Aiden O’Brien to his son Joseph.
Sir Erec made his first start over hurdles in a maiden at the end of December. He was sent off at odds of 11/10 and jumped well in the whole, bar the second last. He tracked the leaders from two out before joining them coming to the last, and then only needed to be pushed out to win a neck from the Willie Mullins trained Tiger Tap Tap. This was an exciting introduction for the horse and one that showed he transitioned is ability over to hurdles. This performance earnt the horse an RPR rating of 127.
However it was the performance of his next and most recent start, that has led to him now being put down as a banker of the festival. He contested the Grade one Spring Juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown’s, Dublin festival. Sent off at odds on 13/8, with Tiger Tap Tap again in opposition, it was expected to be another stern test of his credentials. Sir Erec made all the running and was over three lengths clear by half way. He was very economical over his hurdles throughout, bar the mistake at the third last.
Sir Erec was still going well coming to the last and was driven clear to win very impressively. He was instantly pushed into a general 2/1 for Cheltenham and this has only continued to contract following this. Sir Erec was given an RPR rating of 146 for this performance, and looks to have a huge amount of improvement left in him. If you look at the 2018 edition, it was won by Farclas who ran to a rating of 149 in the process, so it shows that Sir Erec is already there. This performance and the potential of the horse stamps banker and he can be expected to oblige for the O’Brien team.
Full replay and reaction: Joseph O’Brien’s tightens his grip on the Triumph Hurdle as Sir Erec rises to the occasion at Leopardstown.’
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 3, 2019
