Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 15/12/21

The first horse this week that has been well backed for Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival is the Charleds Byrnes trained Blazing Khal.

The five year old on Saturday at Cheltenham was chasing a four timer having won twice over hurdles this term before the weekend and also landing a bumper last season.

Showing ability in bumpers, he finally got off the mark at Limerick when seeing off nice types for Henry De Bromhead and Emmet Mullins.

Saved for hurdles this term he made his seasonal debut at Galway where he went on to beat a nice gelding in Gringo D'aubrelle, who has since franked the form.

Blazing Khal also gave the form a boost next time out at Cheltenham over 2m5f when landing the Grade Two Ballymore Novice Hurdle, with the best of his work coming at the end of the race.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time in his career, it suited him down to the ground and he went on to score by close to five lengths.

The Albert Bartlett market now has a new market leader after that with the Irish horse now as short as 5/1 from 16/1 for the Grade One in March.

The other horse of interest from the weekend that took a big move in the betting for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival is the Willie Mullins trained Stattler.

A smart hurdler last term placing in some big staying Grade One events, Mullins has sent him over fences this term and he could be one for the National Hunt Chase.

Staying has never been an issue for this gelding with his strengths being the further he goes the better he becomes, picking off rivals.

On Saturday the Ronnie Bartlett owned runner made his chase debut over 2m5f and stayed on well after the last to take the event.

This saw him go from 10/1 into a general 5/1 with most firms.