Cheltenham Festival Market Movers From The Week That Was

Master Tommytucker for Paul Nicholls topped off a superb day for the trainer and personally gave a career best performance to land the Grade Two event.

His task in the Silviniaco Conti Chase was made easier with the favourite Imperial Aura unseating his rider at the first, but from that he dominated the event.

He left backers with their hearts in their mouths at the last when Harry Cobden asked for a big jump and he bustled through the top of it and did well to stay up.

However, apart from that he was very good and overall this season he has improved his jumping and come on leap and bounds as a racehorse.

After his win on Saturday the Ryanair Chase market saw him backed in from 33/1 into 16/1 in some places and he could be a live player for the British.

McFabulous was arguably one of the most impressive winners of the weekend, bouncing back from his third behind Paisley Park and Thyme Hill to land the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle with ease.

2m5f seems to be his prerogative, with just that bit further slightly finding him out in company with out and out stayers, but the Stayers Hurdle market believe he may be able to mix it with the best.

Having been 20/1 after his third at Newbury, he was smashed into 12/1 in places for the Thursday feature at the festival and could run a big race into the placings.

However, Paul Nicholls has stated that whether he goes to Cheltenham is up in the air, with the 2m5f Hurdle at Aintree at the grand National meeting is his main target.

The only Grade One event of the week was the Grade One Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow and although Nassalam for Gary Moore was the strong favourite it was Adagio for David Pipe who stole the show.

The youngster made his debut in November at Warwick when winning a decent event and then two starts ago stepped over two miles at Cheltenham and finished a good second behind the Gordon Elliott trained Duffle Coat.

He used that form next time out to drop back in class and easily land the Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle over the same course and distance.

The gelding took the race with ease, travelling well throughout the race and he did the same on Saturday, breezing into the lead in tricky conditions.

It was a very taking performance, but overall did have the best form in the race but has now elevated that form line with a Grade One win to his name.

The Triumph Hurdle market reacted to that win in kind by shortening the youngster from 20/1 into 8/1 and he looks to be the best of the British heading into the event.