TO the untrained eye, the run of Klitschko at Newbury on New Year’s Eve didn’t amount to much.
The JP McManus-owned runner stayed on at the end but finished a full 15 lengths behind shock 66-1 winner Jupiter Du Gite.
Klitschko was held up miles behind but could go well when sent handicapping
All the talk afterwards was about Gary Moore’s ‘mad’ horse, who was doing trots racing with harnesses not long ago.
And about Nicky Henderson’s Jet Powered – who flopped spectacularly in the 2m hurdle.
The horse had been 13-2 second-favourite for the Supreme and seen as a real challenger to fav Facile Vega.
But Willie Mullins’ unbeaten star shortened to odds-on after Jet Powered’s dismal run, that horse going to 33-1 for the Festival opener.
However, a bit like an optical illusion, the more times you look at something, the more likely you are to spot something you didn’t expect.
Betfair racing tipster Tony Calvin was certain he found something in Klitschko’s run.
Most read in Horse Racing
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 on Racing and get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Ladbrokes: Bet £5 Get £20 – CLAIM HERE
Coral: Bet £5 Get £20 – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply. Begambleaware.org
Betfair – Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: New customers only. First single & e/w bet only odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets only redeemable on horse racing. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply.
Ladbrokes: 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Coral: Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+ T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org
Held out the back throughout by jockey Tom Cannon, the famous gold and green McManus silks were caked in mud by the time the horse approached the last.
But it was then he switched sharply left, passed two tired runners and sauntered to the line under hands and heels.
In fairness, there was no need to ask the Alan King-trained horse for more given how far ahead Jupiter Du Gite was.
But Calvin – who admitted Jupiter Du Gite’s win was ‘extraordinary’ – noted the horse’s eyecatching run all the same.
And, speaking on the Weighed In podcast, he said: “I tell you what was more extraordinary, the horse in second, Klitschko.
“Go and have a look at that run, their second run over hrdles.
“That was a handicap project if ever I saw one. Keep your eye on Klitschko.
“I don’t know what the time (of the race) was like, but the one who was second made me chuckle.”
Klitschko, a five-year-old gelding, won a bumper at Huntingdon last May.
A son of Blue Bresil, he was a six-length third when 4-11 on hurdles debut at the same track in November.
Under new rules, a novice must run four times before competing in a Class 1 or Class 2 handicap hurdle race.
So if JP is planning a plot job on Klitschko for the Festival, the horse will have to run twice more before then.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chases their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org Read More