Cheltenham Festival Market Movers - 19/12/22

Although there has not been much jumps racing over the last week or so, Thurles and Punchestown over the last few days have shown off some potential superstars that could be heading to the Cheltenham festival.

A horse that showed form in both bumpers and over hurdles the talented grey although not being a Grade One performer has a lot of ability and now over fences can reach the maximum of his potential.

Making his chase debut at Thurles on Sunday over 3m 1/2f, the seven year old jumped brilliantly and showed great stamina late on to pull away from stablemate Tenzing.

With him not being good enough to take on some of the quality in the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, the National Hunt Chase looks a big option and he has gone from 50/1 into 16/1 for the race.

The long awaited return for Appreciate It finally came on Monday from Punchestown's rearranged card and it saw the 2021 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner make an exceptional chase debut.

He was a superstar as a bumper and novice hurdles horse landing numerous Grade One events but having been set to go chasing last term but picking up an injury set back and staying over hurdles only being seen once in the Champion Hurdle when blowing out, this season he will be sent over fences and could find the form of that 20/21 season.

He started as he meant to go on at Punchestown when jumping fairly well and pulling away from Top Bandit to win by seven lengths over two miles

This has now seen his price of 8/1 for the Arkle go into as short as 4/1 with some firms with some of them offering 5s for the nine year old to land the Grade One.

Finally, the return of one of the most talked about horses in the sport, Galopin Des Champs on Monday made his seasonal debut in the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase over 2m4f and on to bolt up by close to 14 lengths, seeing off Grade One winning chaser Fakir D'oudairies back in second.

The six year is now the stand out favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup being a best price of 11/4 now into 7/4 with most firms having never been seen over the trip.

Already a Cheltenham festival winner over hurdles, a Grade One winner over fences, he should be unbeaten for his chasing career and looks to have a huge career ahead of him.

Superstar.