The following horses are moving and shaking in the markets this morning on Day 1 of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival:
13:20
The weekend money came for favourite Appreciate It, pushing the Mullins-trained favourite into a shade of odds-on, but this morning it’s all about Ballyadam. Beaten 3 lengths by Appreciate It last time out, many are now taking the view that he would have been much closer had he jumped the last cleanly at Leopardstown.
Into 13/2 from 15/2, each-way bandits are able to get 2.3 on the place part of the bet when it is currently trading at 2.1 on the exchanges.
13:55
Shishkin remains steady at 1/2 still, with some concerned that Altior’s sickness may be spilling into other barns…
Eldorado Allen was rerouted here from the Grand Annual and some optimists are backing Tizzard’s course-proven novice into 40/1 from 50/1.
14:30
Alnadam is into 8/1 from 12/1 yesterday, with many now thinking the recent form in the book and being a son of Poliglote will be strong assets on surface officially given as ‘soft’ this morning. There have also been nibbles in the market for Cepage at 20/1 – Venetia Williams does very well in these staying handicap chases at the Festival.
15:05
In the feature race, plenty of experts have been keen to oppose Honeysuckle, but she just keeps winning and relishes soft. She’s been very popular, in a deep field, and currently trades at 5/4 from as big as 9/4 yesterday.
15:40
Favourite Concertista remains very strong at 11/10 and looks sure to go off odds-on if a combination of the preceding favourites can do the business before her. Not the highest-profile mare owned by Kenny Alexander to run today (Honeysuckle!), but Minella Melody has attracted each-way support into 16/1 from 25/1.
Similar to Ballyadam, perhaps sharp bettors think that if the Irish formlines really are much stronger this jumps season, than the Leopardstown form can carry across.
16:15
Filly Riviere D’Etel is 8/1 from 12/1 yesterday and has had the typically quite prep that you look for in this handicap confined to juveniles. At bigger prices, Sage Advice could be just that – into 14/1 from 20/1 for Dr Richard Newland.
16:50
In the lucky last, Escaria Ten is strong, 7/1 from 5/1, and bettors are also getting behind Andy Holding’s selection on Oddschecker, Remastered (5/1 from 7/1).