Cheltenham Festival Market Movers From The Weekend Just Gone

The performance of the weekend came at Fairyhouse on Sunday in the feature Grade One on the card, the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, and Honeysuckle for trainer Henry De Bromhead stole the headlines.

The five year old has raced seven times throughout her career running in a point to point back in April 2018 which she won and has since plied her trade over hurdles staying in unbeaten in all six of her outings.

She raced four times last season with all of her runs to a high standard and at one point was a big favourite for the Grade Two Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham but missed out through a slight training setback.

She rounded off her season in style landing her first Grade One of her career at Fairyhouse in the Mares Novices Championship Final.

This season she holds big aspirations for her trainer and has already shown she has the credentials to back them up when winning the second black type race of her career on Sunday.

All going well, she will make to the festival this season and she is now the favourite for the Grade One Mares Hurdle at 7/4 having previously been 6/1.

Sunday again showed off another big market mover for the Cheltenham festival when the JP McManus owned Fakir D'oudairies became the first four year old to land the Drinmore Novices Chase.

The youngster trained by Joseph O'Brien was a smart hurdler but seems to even better over the bigger obstacles being unbeaten now on both of his starts.

He made a lovely start his season beating two time runner up in the Champion Hurdle Melon at Navan on both of their first starts over fences.

He then headed to the Grade One at the weekend and jumped like a dream to take the spoils which overall saw him move in the market for the Arkle Chase.

He went over slightly further in this contest but it has been judged that if Samcro did not fall he would have been beat and may not have the stamina for the extra trip, hence the drop down to two miles for the Arkle at the festival.

He is now 6/1 instead of 10/1 for the contest at Cheltenham.

The final horse we would like to talk about ahead of March is Nicky Henderson's Champ who is now a general 3/1 for the RSA Chase at the four day meeting.

He made it two from two over fences when adding to his win at Newbury on his seasonal debut at the same track but this time in Grade Two company.

It wasn't as straight forward as the betting suggested for this race with him showing a lack of maturity over his fences but clear staying ability on the flat.

Henderson has revealed he may not run over three miles until the festival but the RSA is the target and should get better for each run he has in preparation.