I am all over Battleoverdoyen and think he’s a massive price @ 40/1 (William Hill). Ante Post prices are generally rubbish compared to the days of old, but prices like this give me faith all is not lost! I’ve used quite a few £5 free bets on him @ 25/1 (Skybet), but have decided to take a bigger position @ 40’s.
Gordon loves him. You don’t have to look too hard to stumble across plenty of quotes praising the ‘big chaser in the making’ that he ‘wouldn’t swap him for anything’.
Gerry Cosgrave, known as a genial County Down point-to-point trainer, had BOD before Gordon. ‘‘He was a lovely, big, strong fella, the sort that takes a bit of time, but he did everything so easy. You can see now, it was total ability he had. I had a feeling I had something nice, that’s for sure‘‘
He won his only pointing start at Loughanmore in April 2017 and five days later was sold for £235,000 at Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham. Interestingly, Racing TV did an interview with Richard Pugh (14/02/2019) who has probably seen more P2P’s that I’ve had hot dinners, and when asked which horses he saw at P2P’s for the first time that he thought would go on to be a star he mentions three. Best Mate, Imperial Commander and Battleoverdoyen who he described as ‘awesome’.
Gerry Cosgrave said "I’m hoping Battleoverdoyen wins the Gold Cup some day because jumping fences is his proper game."
Even if you’re one of those people that cannot put a line through the Ballymore, when you combine his profile and regard he’s held, P2P win, price tag, horses he is being aligned with, and the fact he's trained by GE, make him no 40/1 shot. He needs time, fences and more than two and half miles, all of which he will get. The market has over reacted to his flop at Cheltenham and Gordon’s post-race comments, and then Champ and Minella Indo have both enhanced their Cheltenham form since in fine style. They have shortened leaving serious value in behind. I hope Gerry is right and he is good enough to progress into a Gold Cup horse. Long way to go, but I expect BOD to win his beginners chase and not look back. Price will tumble and we’ll all be on at 40’s.