Racing: Malta loses standing in Gold Cup market

CYFOR MALTA has been eased in Cheltenham Gold Cup betting in the wake of the news that he is also to be entered for the Champion Chase and that the two-mile event may be his Festival target. The Martin Pipe- trained gelding is now 10-1 from 8-1 with William Hill, who have shortened Florida Pearl to 4-1 from 9-2.

Fans of Venetia Williams, who trains the Gold Cup favourite, Teeton Mill, have taken the 33-1 about her Stretarez, a Group-race winner on the Flat, for the Champion Hurdle and he is in to 20-1 with Hills.

Double Thriller, the former hunter chaser who is the last horse to have beaten Teeton Mill and is now in the care of Paul Nicholls, was yesterday well backed with Coral for the Gold Cup. They have cut him to 33-1 from 50-1 and report significant sums for three runners, Impulsive Dream, Slaney Native and Mykon Gold in Saturday's Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown.

They have trimmed Impulsive Dream to 10-1 from 11-1, Slaney Native to 12-1 from 14-1, and Mykon Gold to 14-1 from 16-1.

FIRST SHOW

Market Rasen 2.10

C H L S T

Marigliano 2-1 5-2 2-1 9-4 15-8

Black Bullet 11-4 11-4 11-4 11-4 11-4

Warrlin 6-1 5-1 11-2 11-2 11-2

Duke's Mount 8-1 11-2 6-1 6-1 7-1

Key Grip 8-1 8-1 10-1 8-1 10-1

Fair And Fancy 8-1 9-1 12-1 9-1 9-1

Sunrise Special 11-1 11-1 9-1 10-1 12-1

Non Vintage 16-1 14-1 16-1 16-1 16-1

Each-way, a fifth the odds, places 1, 2, 3

C Coral, H Wm Hill, L Ladbrokes, S Stanley, T Tote