Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 14/11/22

Zarak The Brave looks an exceptional recruit for Willie Mullins and owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede having been bought from France after some decent runs on the flat.

Making his stable/hurdles debut at Fairyhouse on Tuesday he went on to bolt up by 10 lengths passing plenty of horses on his way round not just going from the front.

He showed plenty of ability that saw his price of 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle slashed into 10/1 with most firms and he looks to have a big career ahead of him.

Hermes Allen arguably gave the performance of the weekend from Cheltenham's November meeting when absolutely dotting up in the Grade Two Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Trial.

One of the most expensive PTP horses this season, the French bred gelding cost £350,000 at Cheltenham's December meeting and was given to Paul Nicholls.

Unleashed for the first time over 2m6f in October at Stratford when easily landing the Maiden event by 27 lengths, he was sent to Cheltenham on Friday up into Grade Two company and saw off a very smart field by nine lengths.

The Cheltenham markets reacted accordingly to the strong performance with Hermes Allen going from 33/1 into 10/1 for the Ballymore in March, whilst also going as short as 8/1 with one firm for the Albert Bartlett.

A horse with a big career.

Finally, another horse from Cheltenham this weekend that caught the eye of many and has since been backed for two races at the Cheltenham festival is the Joseph O'Brien trained banbridge.

A very smart hurdler for Joseph O'Brien winning in January at Navan over two miles when beating Au Fleuron and then off a mark of 137 landed the 23 runner Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham festival in good style.

Sent chasing this term he made an emphatic seasonal debut at Gowran Park over 2m4f when winning by close to 9 lengths.

Dropped back to two miles on Saturday at Cheltenham in the Grade Two Arkle Trial, he put in a superb round of jumping to take the event by six lengths from Tommy's Oscar.

He was smashed in the betting straight away for the Day One Grade One at the festival in March, going from 33s into 12/1 for the Arkle.

Also having an option for the Turner's Novices' Chase on the Thursday he is now a general 10/1 from 25/1.