‘We want to get him in the bag’ – big early activity in Cheltenham ring with Johnny Dineen hoping to get Old Park Star beaten in Supreme

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Johnny Dineen is back in the betting ring with FitzBet and is keen to take on 2-1 favourite Old Park Star in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival, describing it as “very important” to get Nicky Henderson’s star novice beaten in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Upping The Ante star Dineen had laid two significant bets early in the ring at 11am on Backmersackme in the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase and Jagwar in the Ultima. Backmersackme is owned by Paul Byrne, one of the principals behind FitzBet.

Dineen stood as a bookmaker at the festival from 2003 to 2021 and Tuesday marks his return to the Cheltenham ring.

Speaking from his pitch, a busy Dineen said: “It’s like driving a car! I’d be amazed if I can’t do it anyway! It’s the perfect weather and I’m looking forward to it. It’s not too warm, not too cold and it’s dry. We laid two big bets already with Backmersackme each-way and Jagwar.

Old Park Star: favourite for the SupremeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

“It’s very important to get Old Park Star beaten in the first. He’s 2-1 now with Leader D’Allier out but I’d much prefer he was running and get Old Park Star in at 5-2 as I thought Leader D’Allier had a chance. I still think there’s enough to take him on with.”

With Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba flip-flopping at the head of the Arkle market, it should be an intriguing betting heat and he thinks Kopek Des Bordes will go off the shorter price. 

Lossiemouth has been heavily backed into 6-4 favouritism for the Champion Hurdle and Dineen feels she’s a huge danger to his fancy The New Lion.

Dineen said: “The front of the market in the Arkle will be razor-tight. Maybe possibly Kopek Des Bordes will go off favourite, but there’ll be nothing in it. 

“Lossiemouth’s price isn’t overly generous but she has a good chance. I’m on The New Lion but I’m terrified of Lossiemouth at the same time. The last hurdle going back will make a big difference too. That will alter the winning and losing of races, no doubt it will. Horses coming from the back have a better chance with the longer run-in.

“Normally, if you land in front at the last, you’ll win nine out of ten but that’s not going to happen this time. There’ll no certainty that jumps the last in front.”

Lossiemouth: favourite for the Champion HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Anthony Kaminskas of AK Bets is also itching to get money for Old Park Star and is already reporting a bad position on the gambled-on Sober Glory.

“Old Park Star is the one we want to get in the bag and I think we will,” he said. “I think you’ll see a good spread of bets in the Supreme. We laid Sober Glory at 16-1 and 14-1 online yesterday and that’s halved in price. We’ve laid some chunky bets on him. El Cairos has his backers as well. I was surprised at the Mighty Park drift [13-2 in the ring]. 

“We haven’t really laid Old Park yet but he’s the one we want to lay at the price. I can see him drifting so if we can get it in the bag at 9-4, I’d be happy. The Arkle is going to be picking on the front end, we haven’t laid a sausage on anything else. If we can get the front two beat, we’ll be flying. I think Lossiemouth will definitely go off favourite in the Champion Hurdle, unless of course JP [McManus] steps into the ring.”

On his own nap for the week, he said: “The biggest bet I had is a big five-figure one on Ireland to win the Prestbury Cup at 1-6. I make it way shorter, and I bet them at -5.5 at 11-10, evens and 10-11. If Britain are going to have a good day, it has to be today. If they don’t, it’s absolutely over I think. I just can’t see it being close.” 

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