Three Cheltenham Market Movers From The Weekend - 21/12/20

The performance of the weekend came from arguably the best race of the jumps season to date with Aidan Coleman and Paisley Park coming from the clouds to land the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

The race was hyped up as a heavyweight bout between Thyme Hill and Paisley Park and it did not disappoint with the pair of them fighting it out up to the line and only being separated by a neck.

It was the eight year olds third win in Grade One company and was a great thing for racing to see the horse that most the racing world are fond of getting back to his best.

That win really hots up the Stayers' hurdle division with nothing to split both Paisley Park and Thyme Hill with Sire De Berlais set to lay down his challenge on the group when racing in Ireland over Christmas.

Paisley Park will now head to Cheltenham for the Cleeve Hurdle before looking to win the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival for the second time in his career and after his performance at the weekend he is now as short as 7/2 from 9/2.

Allart for Nicky Henderson looks to be a horse with serious potential having been a classy hurdler and then sent over hurdles for the first time on Friday and landing the Grade Two Noel Novices' Chase.

Having won twice and finishing a strong fifth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival, Henderson was always sending him chasing this season and he looks to be a very smart prospect.

Having had no run he was shoved straight into the Grade Two event and although jumping the first few fences poorly, he learnt on the job and got better the further he went.

The six year olds best asset seems to be his engine, just creeping into the race and when needing to go for home having the speed and stamina to see off what was a good field on Friday.

Off the back of the race he was moved into 16/1 from 40/1 for the Marsh Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham festival and overall looks a very nice chaser in the making for the Seven Barrows yard.

The final horse from the weekend that we believe is worth taking note of is the Willie Mullins trained Gauloise who solidified her ability when landing the Listed Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

Having won a 12 furlong event in France in April, she was then bought by Kenneth Alexander (owner of Honeysuckle) and given to Willie Mullins.

She was frightening on debut over course and distance at Thurles when winning a Maiden Hurdle with any amount in hand and backed up her credentials on Sunday when stepping up to better company and winning nicely again.

The Mares Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival looks to be the race she will be targeted at and she can now be backed at 6/1 for the event having been 12/1 before her race on Sunday.