Cheltenham Festival Market Movers From The Week That Was - 01/02/21

Coko Beach for Gordon Elliott was a smart hurdler last year, that this season has been sent over fences and on Thursday confirmed his talent over the bigger obstacles.

After showing signs that he could be a smart individual over fences on his runs this season, having chased home Envoi Allen and other smart chaser Forza Milan.

However, he propelled his form to a new level on Thursday at Gowran Park when landing the prestigious 18 runner Thyestes Handicap over 3m1f.

The further he went the better his jumping became and having travelled strongly throughout he went on to take the event by four lengths, going away in the final stages.

Although a novice, he performed in a manner that showed maturity over fences and with that in mind Elliott has nominated the NH Chase at the festival as his target.

After the race he was shortened into 14/1 from 33/1 for the race on the Tuesday at Prestbury Park and if improving for that performance has to be a live player.

Sunday at Naas saw some of the best racing across the week with some smart events and one race that has thrown out a big market mover for the festival was the Grade Three Novice Chase just over three miles.

The Henry De Bromhead trained Eklat De Rire is a very lightly raced seven year old that has taken to the bigger obstacles like a dream this term, being unbeaten on both his starts.

Having only been seen twice over hurdles last term and performing to a good standard, when winning at Thurles on his final start in March.

De Bromhead switched him to fences this term, both times over staying trips and he has landed both his events in good style winning at Punchestown on debut and then again going well on Sunday in a better race.

At the weekend he saw off the likes of Pencilfulloflead that has Grade One placed form and also Escaria Ten for Gordon Elliott who is also thought to be a smart gelding.

Off the back of his graded win he went from 33/1 into 12/1 for the RSA Novices' Chase at the festival and could be a live player against Latest Exhibition and Monkfish.

The final market mover of the week comes from a horse that has not been seen since the Christmas period but has been nibbled in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle market ahead of his intended run on Saturday.

This is Gaillard Du Mesnil for Willie Mullins who has been seen twice to date over hurdles having joined the yard from France this term.

He made his seasonal debut at Punchestown and finished a good second behind Holymacapony and from there improved to get off the mark at Leopardstown over Christmas.

The form of that race has taken a huge boost with the third placed horse since going on to win and on Sunday the second placed also got off the mark for the season in a good race.

With Gaillard Du Mesnil set to run on Saturday in a Grade One Novices Hurdle at the Dublin Racing festival and the form of his last race being franked, he has received market support for the Ballymore.

Having been 10/1 last week with most firms he can now be backed at 7/1 for the first race on the Wednesday at Cheltenham.