Ex-Irish Fantastic Strike subject of a gamble The former John Joe Walsh-trained Fantastic Strike has been the subject of a major plunge for the Desco Derby Novices' Hurdle (John Wade Hurdle Series Qualifier) at Sedgefield today. Odds on the Noverre four-year-old have dropped from as big as 12/1 into a general 7/2 for the two and a half miler at 2.50. Galway native Dougie Costello will ride Fantastic Strike on his first outing for Brian Storey. Fantastic Strike won on the all-weather over a mile and a half last October at Kempton for Mark Johnston and he later finished seventh in a couple of big field maiden hurdles at Cork and Limerick in March and April for John Joe Walsh and the B S Racing Syndicate. He was then sold for £7,500 at Doncaster in April 2011. Fantastic Strike will be bidding to thwart Tony McCoy's effort to reach the 100 winner mark for the season. He rides the odds-on Priceless Art for Alan Swinbank in this event.
