Cousin Vinny festival target not cut and dried; BETTING REPORT TRADING POST.

Byline: Matt Williams reckons Rare Bob is poor value at odds-on

A LOT of bookmakers have not bothered to price up Cousin Vinny for the Ballymore at Cheltenham, with Totesport standing alone by offering 8-1.

Looking at the prices for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, it would be easy to think Willie Mullins (pictured) has made his mind up by going for the two-mile option with Cousin Vinny, but I gather things aren't cut and dried and bookmakers should at least offer a price for the longer race.

If an inexperienced punter is looking to have a bet in one or two of the races, they would see running plans for Hurricane Fly are undecided, as he is a short price for each contest, while vying for favouritism with his stablemate in the Supreme. Cousin Vinny, according to the betting, is shaping like he is a certainty to run in the Supreme, with prices offered across the board.

If Hurricane Fly runs before Cheltenham and wins well, he will go down the twomile route at the festival, and if he goes straight there, he is even more certain to do his running on the Tuesday.

The cynic in me thinks bookies are all too keen taking bets on Cousin Vinny for the Supreme Novices', safe in the knowledge that he is just as likely to roll up for the Ballymore.

Mullins' big drifter

THE four-year-old bumper at Leopardstown on Pierse Hurdle day is always a competitive affair and, with a recent roll of honour including Kicking King, Vodka Bleu, Finger Onthe Pulse and Perce Rock, you can understand why there is so much anticipation surrounding this race.

Willie Mullins is having so much success in these bumper races of late that punters just back his runners blind, regardless of the price.

However, after trading at an opening low of 3.2 on the exchanges, Mullins' Blackstairmountain was a big drifter and the lack of on-course confidence was reflected in the performance of the debutant, who failed to make the frame in the end.

The race was dominated by Flat-bred horses, including the winner Tornedo Shay, who held on from the well-backed favourite, Elegant Concorde.