Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 09/01/23

The first big market mover from the weekend is the Willie Mullins trained Champ Kiely, who was a very smart winner of the Grade One Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

A winner of his first three starts under rules, getting up late in a bumper at Limerick in May 2021 on debut and then stepped up to 2m5f at Galway in July on hurdles debut he took a maiden by 21 lengths.

Not seen again until October when stepped up to Grade Three company at Tipperary he put away a field including Cheltenham Festival winner Brazil and Hubrisko with ease.

Looking to land his first Grade One he went to Fairyhouse but could only finish fourth in the Royal Bond with the gelding needing a step up in trip.

He got that at the weekend when tried at 2m4f and having been well backed on the day he made every yard to take the race by close to three lengths.

The Lawlor's Of Naas has always been a big indicator for the Ballymore at Cheltenham and off the back of that run Champ Kiely went from 14/1 into 6/1 for the Grade One.

The final Cheltenham festival market mover of the weekend came off the back of Tahmuras for Paul Nicholls landing the Grade One Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

The six year old has been a superstar since being sent over hurdles this term, running three times and being unbeaten in every event, improving with each run.

Making his hurdles debut at Chepstow this season he showed some smart pace to distance himself from the pack after jumping the last.

Running on soft ground next time out at Haydock he again ran out an easy winner this time in a Listed event, showing good stamina to last home in the conditions.

Both of those runs set him up for the Tolworth on Saturday and with the ante-post favourite Luccia not declared and the actualy favourite Authorised Speed not jumping well enough, Tahmuras showed what an engine he had to win the Grade One.

His owners are very keen on sending him to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and off the back of that run he went from 33/1 into 10s for the Grade One.