Our Duke backed for Gold Cup glory after Irish National success

Monday’s impressive Irish National winner Our Duke is now as short as 8/1 for the 2018 Gold Cup as bookmakers and punters continue to react to his 14 length Fairyhouse saunter. The 7yo novice proved to be a Graded horse in a handicap as he destroyed the 28-strong field under Gold Cup-winning jockey Robbie Power. The 9/2 favourite was always prominent before jumping to the front three out and easing clear up the run-in.

Immediately after the race bookmakers responded by cutting the Grade One winning novice into as short as 10/1 from 33/1 earlier in the day. However, support has continued through into Tuesday with bookies again shortening their odds. Paddy Power now make him their 8/1 joint-third favourite for the race in their ante-post market with 14/1 still on offer with some firms.

Oddschecker punters obviously liked what they saw too with over 91% of all bets on the Gold Cup market since Monday afternoon for the Jessica Harrington-trained horse.

Asked if she felt Our Duke could be a Gold Cup horse in the making, Harrington told the Racing Post: “That’s why we didn’t go to Cheltenham with Our Duke last month. The Cooper family, who own him, said, ‘No – we want to wait for the Gold Cup next year. He does look like a Gold Cup horse and we’ll keep him and Sizing John apart and see what happens.”

Next year’s race is already shaping up to be a corker with the likes of this year’s winner Sizing John (6/1), RSA winner Might Bite (10/1) and King George hero Thistlecrack (6/1) all prominent in the betting.