Samcro will not switch to the Supreme, says O'Leary

Eddie O’Leary has maintained that Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle favourite Samcro will not be switched to the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Samcro was 14-1 with Bet365 on Sunday night for the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but that price was clipped in to 9-1 on Monday morning before the market went in to a spin.

When the dust had settled the unbeaten hurdler was still as short as 6-4 with bookmakers who operate the non-runner, no bet concession, and top-priced 5-2 with Bet365.

Betfair, who are not offering non-runner, no bet, are 8-1.

For nearly a month, connections have stated that the Ballymore is the preferred target but with the going at Cheltenham currently soft, good to soft in places, and an unsettled week with up to 20mm of rain, there is the possibility that the opening day of the four-day meeting on March 13 will has the word soft in the description.

"Switching Samcro from the Ballymore to the Supreme is something we’re not even thinking about. It doesn’t interest us that his price for the Supreme has shortened,” Giggingstown’s O’Leary was quoted as saying on the Racing Post website.

"Unless the ground becomes brutally heavy - and I hope for everyone’s sake that won’t be the case - it isn’t something we’ll even consider.”

Samcro is a best-priced 4-5 with Betfair Sportsbook for the Ballymore.