Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 14/02/22

The first horse that put up a superb performance at the weekend and is now the new outright favourite for the Arkle Challenge Trophy is the Alan King trained Edwardstone.

The gelding has been exceptional since going over fences this term, having a slight hiccup on debut when being bought down at Warwick when travelling well, but next time out put things right over the same C&D when taking a decent two mile Novices' Chase.

Stepped up to Grade One company next time out he went on to improve once more to land the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown, seeing off his closes rivals War Lord and Third Time Lucki by 16 lengths.

With the second and third since franking that form line, Edwardstone went to Kempton and also boosted it by making it a hat-trick of wins when landing the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.

Having one more run before the Arkle, he was seen at Warwick on Saturday against market rival Third Time Lucki in the Grade Two Kingmaker Novices' Chase and he went on to win by close to five lengths.

This has now installed him as the 2/1 favourite for the second race at the festival with him moving from 11/4

Another strong performance on Saturday came from Newbury with Eldorado Allen for Colin Tizzard stepping up in trip and bolting up in the Grade Two Denman Novices' Chase.

Always looking like a horse who wanted to go up in trip he proved punters right by putting established horses like Royal Pagaille and Clan Des Obeaux in there place to win by over two lengths.

Winning over a shorter trip in the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup already this season, his future now lies over further and he has become a serious contender for the Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup.

With no entry as of yet in the feature race of the festival, the current option looks to be the Ryanair and after his win at the weekend he went into 12/1 with most firms from 33/1.

Moving onto the racing in Ireland this weekend and on Saturday Brazil for trainer Padraig Roche put up a huge performance in the Novice Hurdle to win by 13 lengths eased down.

This event in the past has been used by horses as a stepping stone to the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on the first day of the festival.

Punters reacted to this and he is now the second favourite for the event, going from 20/1 with some bookmakers to a general 8/1 with most firms.

JP McManus loves attacking this race and this gelding looks to be his strongest chance in the event at this stage.

Finally, on Sunday at Punchestown, another JP McManus put himself in the hat for the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

A smart hurdles horse, Ciel De Neige this term has turned into a very accomplished chaser winning three straight events, with his win at the weekend coming over the Grand Annual trip.

Before this race he looked a big contender over 2m4f for the Paddy Power Plate but his attentions might now turn to the Grand Annual and he is now a 8/1 shot to do so from 20/1 previously.