Phillip Hobbs Novice chaser and juvenile superstar Defi Du Seuil looks set to head for the Grade 1 JLT Novices Chase instead of the Arkle, where there has been speculation all week about where the Six year old will go at the festival.
This news may come as a surprise to many as the bookmakers constantly for the last few weeks have been cutting the price on the J P McManus owned gelding and in some place is as short as 4/1 to take the first Grade 1 chase of the festival.
Part of the reason for the speculation that Defi Du Seuil would switch to the Arkle and go down in trip was due to his owners leading chance in the contest, Le Richebourg, suffering a season ending injury and not being able to go to Prestbury Park this year.
Phillip Hobbs, has come out to steady the nerves of ante-post backer of the smart six year old for the JLT Novices Chase as his price was drifting to 5/1 and standing at second favourite behind the Colin Tizzard trained Lostintranslation.
(Credit Racing Post) Hobbs said: "He's in very good form and it's more likely that he will go for the JLT.
"We'll make a final decision nearer the time. There's a big team involved so we will speak to everyone before we make that final decision."
Another horse that has not been confirmed on his festival entry yet is the Mick Channon trained Glen Forsa, that after his demolition of Arkle fancy Kalashnikov has been prominent in the betting market for both Grade 1 contests.
The seven year old is unbeaten in his last three chase starts and has seen his odds for the Arkle slashed from 40/1 to now a best price of 9/2 and looks to have a serious chance with injury withdrawals and other runners set to go for the race.
"Glen Forsa will go for the Arkle, the owner's always favoured going that way, and after the dust had settled on his run at Sandown we decided to go down that route," Channon said.
The ground and weather for the best four days of racing during the year is set to have a massive impact on certain horses running and also the betting in the market and clerk of the course Simon Claisse has gave his latest update.
He said: The forecast is unsettled and wet. We've had 4mm of rain today but the going remains good on all three courses."