Handicap Weights Revealed

Betting interest in The Festival´s ultra-competitive handicaps looks set to step up a gear today following the publication of the weights for the 10 contests at a special event at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The David Pipe-trained An Accordion, antepost favourite for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase on Tuesday, March 11, has been allotted 10st 8lb, while the 2007 winner Joes Edge has 10st 2lb, 4lb less than he carried to victory last year.

The Enda Bolger-trained Heads Onthe Ground has been given 11st 12lb in the BGC Handicap Chase over Cheltenham´s cross-country course, having carried just 10st 2lb to victory last year, while there are 56 in the handicap for what promises to be a hotly-contested renewal of the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices´ Handicap Hurdle.

The high-class Lough Derg from David Pipe´s yard has 11st 12lb in the Coral Cup, 9lb clear of the field, while his stablemate Comply Or Die will carry a bumper 12st 8lb if he lines up in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Ornais has 11st 10lb in the Jewson Novices´ Handicap Chase, 9lb more than any of his rivals, while his stablemate Sporazene and the 2007 Jewson Novices´ Handicap Chase winner L´Antartique share top billing in the Racing Post Plate on 11st 12lb, the same weight French raider Millenium Royal would shoulder if lining up in the Pertemps Final.

Antepost favourite Kranji has 10st 6lb in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase while the final race of The 2008 Festival, the Vincent O´Brien County Handicap Hurdle, could see Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle possible Catch Me carry a top-weight of 11st 12lb.

The top-weights are as follows: