"It’s a very competitive event and has really divided opinion in our office" Pat Cooney on the bet365 Hunt Cup

Hunt Cup favourite justifies his position at the head of the market

Venetian Mick  is 9-4 favourite with the sponsors to win the bet365 Hunt Cup at Oxford after Saturday's heats - and 4-7 to win his semi-final. 

The ante-post favourite came through his heat in good style at the weekend, justifying odds of 3-10 before winning in 39.56, clocking the fastest sectional (15.18) and fastest outright time. Kevin Hutton's dog goes in the second semi-final on Saturday. 

"He looks well drawn in his semi where his early pace is likely to take him to another all-the-way win," said Pat Cooney of bet365. "That said, there are some strong finishers in his heat so he’ll need one of his customary fast breaks to justify his odds-on price."

Second fastest heat winner was Maxine Locke's The Other Winx (39.72) who goes in the first semi. 

"And that semi-final looks particularly competitive given three of the four heat winners go against each other," added Cooney, who said Angie Kibble's Malcolm Bosh (40.04), another heat winner, was the firm's biggest loser. 

"He also goes in the first semi and you'd have to say his last-to-first win in the heats was fun to watch, and whilst he's usually slowly away, I doubt if anything will be finishing faster. 

"It’s a very competitive event and has really divided opinion in our office, so there's all to play for!" 

bet365 Hunt Cup (sponsor's prices) 

First semi: 15-8 Ballymac Madgie, The Other Winx, 3 Powerhouse Duke, 7-2 Malcolm Bosh, 20 Distant Dahlia, 33 Betweenthesticks. 

Second semi: 4-7 Venetian Mick, 5-2 Resonate, 13-2 Salthill Sydney, 8 Java Joan, 16 Ivy Hill Cherry, 50 Remember Betty. 

Outright: 9-4 Venetian Mick, 5 Ballymac Madgie, Resonate, The Other Winx, 6 Powerhouse Duke, 8 Malcolm Bosh, 14 Java Joan, Salthill Sydney, 33 Ivy Hill Cherry, 66 Distant Dahlia, 100 Betweenthesticks, Remember Betty.