Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 16/11/21

Sharjah has been a superstar horse for the Ricci's and Willie Mullins over the years, landing numerous Grade One events over two miles and on Sunday he added to that tally when taking the Morgiana Hurdle for a second time.

Taking on stablemate Echoes In Raina and the Gordon Elliott trained Zanahiyr, he cruised up past them both to take the event by three lengths.

This has seen him go into 10/1 from 20/1 for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival, with the Tuesday feature being a race that has eluded him during his career.

Finishing second in the last two renewals of the prestigious race, the Mullins yard are hoping this year he can finally go one better and his move in the market suggests he is a big player again.

The second big market mover from last week also came from Ireland with the Joseph O'Brien trained Eric Bloodaxe landing his first event over hurdles.

Having been a smart bumper horse winning his first two events he then slightly lost his way in better company, but still remained an animal to keep on side.

Unleashed to make his seasonal/hurdles debut at Naas thius month, he was a taking winner by eight lengths over 2m3f and he looks to want further going forward, getting better the further he went.

This has seen his price of 50/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle be smashed into as short as 14/1 and if going for the race could be a big contender.

The final Cheltenham festival market mover from the weekend was another Irish raider with the mare Riviere D'Etel looking exceptional in both his chase events to date.

Having been a fair hurdler, but always leaving more to be desired, she stepped up to fences this turn and on his chase/seasonal debut she went on to score in good style by 11 lengths.

This weekend she was stepped up to Grade Two company, taking on Cape Gentleman and Embittered, and she went on to win by a further 21 lengths, giving one of the best Novice Chase performances of the season.

Having been rumoured at going for the Arkle, it seems the Mares Chase could become a big option with her price of 20/1 being slashed into 8/1 for the Friday event.