Tocca Ferro (left): was 5-1 favourite for the Totesport Trophy at Newbury

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)  

BETTING on the Totesport Trophy was thrown wide open on Wednesday after trainer Emma Lavelle ruled ante-post favourite Tocca Ferro out of Newbury’s ultra-competitive handicap hurdle.

Walkon, Salden Licht and Final Approach head the market for next month’s race in the absence of 5-1 favourite Tocca Ferro, who will miss the rest of the season with a tendon injury.

Paddy Power now go 8-1 the field with Salden Licht and Final Approach sharing favouritism, while Totesport have Walkon and Final Approach as the 7-1 joint-favourites.

Speaking at Huntingdon on Wednesday, Lavelle said: “Tocca Ferro did a superb piece of work yesterday at Kempton but was lame after. It looks like a small tear in a tendon and he is out for the season. I’m in deep depression.”

Totesport spokesman George Primarolo said: “Tocca Ferro’s absence from the Totesport Trophy is a real kick in the teeth for ante-post punters who had lumped on.

“It now seems that Alan King holds all the aces with both Walkon and Salden Licht prominent in the market.”

Tocca Ferro had leapt to favouritism for the February 12 contest after two Listed hurdle wins in October and November.

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