Cheltenham Festival Market Movers From The Weekend's Racing

Arguably the stand out performance of the weekend came at Cheltenham on the Saturday in the Grade Two Cotswalds Chase where Nicky Henderson's Santini put in a very gritty performance to land the contest.

He had only been seen once this season before his run on Saturday and at the start of the term he was a strong fancy for the Gold Cup but off the back of his seasonal bow he drifted in the market.

The eight year old went to Kempton in November for the Listed Intermediate Chase eventually doing enough to land the contest but made very hard work of it in a weak field of runners.

It seemed as though his trainer had got him spot on and he looked a much improved animal to dig in up the hill and take the spoils.

He can backed for the Gold Cup at around 6/1 or 7/1 now after previously being a bigger 10/1 before winning nicely at the weekend.

The next market mover for Cheltenham comes in the Novice Hurdle division with the Grade Two Ballymore Novices' Hurdle throwing out a superb contest.

Harry Senior for Colin Tizzard landed the spoils and truly looks like a superb staying horse that after winning that contest was more or less confirmed by his trainer he will be going to the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.

The six year old went on to see off competition from the likes of King Roland who looks a real prospect and also Cheltenham winner Protektorat.

Harry Senior managed to stay on brightly up the running to land the event and now can be backed for the Grade One on the Friday at the festival at 10/1 from a huge previous 60/1.

The final mover from the weekend comes in the same contest as what Harry Senior will head for at the four day meeting in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.

This six year old really cemented his credentials over hurdles yesterday at Naas when romping home in the closing stages, never coming off the bridle.

This son of Getaway was a very smart bumper horse finishing second twice behind some nice horses and then on his first run this season bolted up at Punchestown.

He was then sent over hurdles by Mulllins and also stepped up in trip which saw him go nicely until making a big error at the last flight that ruined his chances of winning.

He has shown clear stamina that on both his outings over timber and Patrick Mullins has said that the Albert Bartlett looks the inteded target for him.

He was 33/1 for the Grade One at Prestbury Park and the best price you can get on him now is 14/1 and if he was to go for the Ballymore at the festival he is now 20/1 from a previous 50/1.