Vivo has his odds slashed

The JP McManus-owned Vivo was the medium of a big public gamble yesterday, being backed down from 33 to 1 to as low as 12 to 1 for Saturday's Ladbroke Hurdle.

Corals had offered the longest priced about the Leopardstown Christmas winner but were forced to slash the price as punters searched for the value in the £75,000 feature.

"Vivo has been by far the best backed horse. Probably because of who owns the horse, there has been a public gamble from JP McManus's supporters and fans," said the Corals spokesman Simon Clare. Vivo landed a big gamble when winning a maiden hurdle in easy fashion at Leopardstown, and with Polar Prospect heading the weights, Vivo currently lies only 1lb out of the handicap proper on 9-13.

Another market mover yesterday was the Philip Hobbs-trained Sadler's Realm, who was cut from 40 to 1 to 28 to 1 with the sponsors.

Trainer Willie Mullins yesterday confirmed that he will be mounting a three-pronged challenge on the Ladbroke with Mykon Gold, Palette and Its Time For A Win. Mykon Gold, the mount of David Casey and a winner at Cork on his last outing, is the shortest-priced of the Mullins trio and the trainer said: "If pushed I would have to say he has the best chance of my three."

But Palette is also sure to attract plenty of interest as she is the mount of Ruby Walsh.