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Cheltenham Festival

'A win on Saturday will see his odds shorten further' - the recent big Cheltenham Festival market movers

Salvator Mundi (left) and Kargese have shortened in the ante-post markets for the Cheltenham Festival this week
Salvator Mundi (left) and Kargese have shortened in the ante-post markets for the Cheltenham Festival this week

Find out all of the recent major movers and shakers in the ante-post markets for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival . . . 


Salvator Mundi

Race: Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Odds: 7-2 (from 5) 

Willie Mullins' Salvator Mundi was cut to a general 7-2 for the Supreme following his win in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, but it was far from a convincing performance.

The five-year-old pulled hard and made some notable jumping errors, briefly looking in danger before sweeping past his rivals approaching the last – at which he again blundered – and streaking clear on the run-in for a widening three-length success.

Salvator Mundi and Paul Townend winning the Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle
Salvator Mundi and Paul Townend win the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

To win despite the errors suggests that Salvator Mundi has a fair engine, but he will need to jump more fluently to land a Supreme.

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (March 11)
Sky Bet: 7-2 Salvator Mundi, 13-2 Romeo Coolio, 12 Kopek Des Bordes, Kaid D'Authie, 14 The New Lion, Workahead, 20 bar.


Ile Atlantique

Race: Arkle Novices' Chase

Odds: 8-1 (from 20)

Ile Atlantique could not quite break through at Grade 1 level over hurdles, coming closest when beaten a neck by Readin Tommy Wrong in last year's Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, but on the evidence of his two chase wins he looks destined for the top level over fences.

The Tony Bloom-owned seven-year-old supplemented a nine-length beginners' chase success at Navan when landing the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas this month.

Ile Atlantique: jumped well on the way to Grade 2 novice chase success
Ile Atlantique: made it two from two over fences with a win at NaasCredit: Patrick McCann

He was chopped into a single-figure price for the Arkle following that win and his connections will be hoping for a wet spring, with his best form produced on a testing surface.

Arkle Novices' Chase (March 11)
Paddy Power: 4-5 Sir Gino, 3 Majborough, 8 Ile Atlantique, 14 L'Eau Du Sud, 16 Ballyburn, 20 Inthepocket, 25 Firefox, Impaire Et Passe, Mistergif, 33 bar.


Kargese

Race: Mares' Hurdle

Odds: 3-1 (from 8)

Kargese has not raced this season but an entry in Saturday's BetMGM Mares' Hurdle at Ascot has seen her Cheltenham Festival odds more than halved this week.

One of 24 entries for the Mares' Hurdle, Kargese chased home Majborough in last season's Triumph Hurdle before bumping into Sir Gino in the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.

Sir Gino (left) and Nico de Boinville win from Kargese at Aintree
Kargese: chased home Sir Gino at Aintree last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

She ended her campaign with a Grade 1 win at Punchestown and has reportedly been kept fresh this season with the spring festivals in mind. On her red-hot juvenile form, the Kenny Alexander-owned five-year-old will be a big player in this division. 

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (March 11)
Paddy Power: 2 Brighterdaysahead, 3 Kargese, Lossiemouth, 7 July Flower, 10 Jade De Grugy, 12 Kateira, 20 Golden Ace, Kala Conti, 25 bar.


Lulamba

Race: Triumph Hurdle

Odds: 4-1 (from 7)

Nicky Henderson's Lulamba has been the subject of a significant gamble in the Triumph Hurdle market without leaving his stable.

A five-length winner at Auteuil in October, he was introduced at 25-1 for the Triumph but has received sustained support and is now the general 4-1 favourite.

He is set to put his festival credentials to the test in the opening 1m7½f juvenile hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, a race won by the enigmatic Goshen in 2020. Victory on his British debut would be likely to see his Triumph odds shortened further.

JCB Triumph Hurdle (March 14)
Betfair: 4 Lulamba, 6 East India Dock, Hello Neighbour, 10 Lady Vega Allen, Sainte Lucie, 16 Palladium, 25 bar. 


Angels Dawn

Race: Hunters' Chase

Odds: 6-1 (from 8)

Sam Curling's mare is no stranger to the Cheltenham Festival, having won the 2023 Kim Muir Handicap Chase, and she has impressed with a pair of point-to-point wins this season.

The ten-year-old has shortened in the betting for the Hunters' Chase since being put up by pro punter Johnny Dineen in this week's episode of Upping The Ante.

St James's Place Festival Open Hunters' Chase (March 14)
Paddy Power: 5-2 Its On The Line, 6 Angels Dawn, 7 Sine Nomine, 10 Big Interest, 12 Famous Clermont, 14 Ferns Lock, 16 Con's Roc, Fairly Famous, Gracchus De Balme, 25 bar.


Fun Fun Fun

Race: Mares' Chase

Odds: 12-1 (from 33)

Fun Fun Fun's form tailed off over hurdles after she won a Grade 3 at Naas last March, but she made an impressive start to her chasing career when scoring by seven and a half lengths on her seasonal debut this month without rider Patrick Mullins having to move a muscle.

Fun Fun Fun (Patrick Mullins) wins the 2m4f mares beginners chase at Naas
Fun Fun Fun: made a successful chasing debutCredit: Patrick McCann

The Mares' Chase looks the obvious port of call at the festival and she is as short as 10-1 for that assignment.

Mares' Chase (March 14)
bet365: 5 Dinoblue, Impervious, 7 Allegorie De Vassy, 10 Bioluminescence, Limerick Lace, Only By Night, 12 Fun Fun Fun, 16 bar.


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Why Constitution Hill has to be taken on in the Champion Hurdle 

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