Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 14/12/22

Energumene who made a smart seasonal return as we expected winning the Grade Two Hillyway Chase for a second year by 15 lengths, never having to get out of first gear to take the race, his cruising speed was enough to see off a very average field.

Having already been the strong favourite to retain his Champion Chase title at 6/4 before the race on Sunday, he is now best priced at even money, with most firms having him odds on.

A superstar Grade One winning two mile chaser over the last two seasons winning eight of hi last nine events over fences and he should be very tough to beat come March.

A very impressive winner from Cork on Sunday came in the Grade Two Mares Novice Chase where Impervious, taking on the likes of Dinoblue, Rosey's Hollow and Instit who are no mugs, went on to take the race by three lengths.

If she really wanted to she could of won the race by more and we thought it was very impressive performance with the horse making it 2/2 over fences now having been impressive on seasonal debut aswell.

Although she showed signs of ability over hurdles last season, the switch to fences has started to convert her into a serious animal.

Impervious is in a few markets for the Cheltenham Festival but it looks as though the Grade Two Mares’ Chase against her own sex will be where she ends up with the Arkle a much tougher event and going from 14/1 into 5/1 for that race sees her as the second favourite behind Allegorie De Vassy for the event with the Mullins favourite still yet to jump a fence.

Arctic Bresil was a big eye-catcher for the De Bromhead team on Sunday in Ireland with the £305,000 purchase seeing off the highly touted Mercury for Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins by close to six lengths.

This saw him get a quote of a general 20/1 having been 50/1 with some other firms for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and if stepping up trip this season, which could be likely with how hard he hit the line, he has also attracted quotes for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at now a best price of 14/1 from 33s.

Expensive type with a cracking pedigree.

Another nice horse popped out of Cork's card on Sunday in the Grade Three Novice Hurdle with Hiddenvalley Lake showing proper staying ability in the three mile event to take the race by eight lengths.

Another expensive purchase at £200,000 for Rob Cour, he looks to have a nice one on his hands after winning the contest and he went from 25/1 into 8/1 second favourite for the Albert Bartlett at The Cheltenham Festival.

A winner of a 23 runner Maiden Hurdle before that at Navan over 2m3f, the second has since come out and won, but now being tried at three miles he looks an even better animal.

Big player for the Cheltenham festival.

Willie Mullins looks to have another nice juvenile on his hands this season with Blood Destiny landing the 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Cork on Sunday with any amount in hand.

He looks another smart youngster for the Closutton yard and after that victory he went from 40/1 into 20/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

He was bought having finished second at Aueteuil in a 1m7f hurdles event with the winner beating him by 3 1/2 lengths and that is Bo Zenith who is now trained by Gary Moore.

Interesting runners.