The exciting A Media Luz went some way to restoring her reputation when she strolled home in a juvenile hurdle at Huntingdon today.
However, punters considering her as a possible JCB Triumph Hurdle winner will have to rethink their views with trainer Nicky Henderson keen to run the Kelvin Hughes-owned filly in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, for which she is as short as 5/1 favourite, although currently available at best-price 8/1.
She was also shortened for the Triumph, but Henderson said: "We'll see what the handicapper does, but I don't really want to run her in the Triumph.
"The Fred Winter has always been the plan and I'm worried she looked impressive today as I don't think it was a good race. I hope the handicapper sees that."
Henderson also trains Triumph favourite Grandouet, who beat A Media Luz at Newbury in December.
"I think the Fred Winter is her best chance," Henderson added. "Grandouet has already beaten her comfortably and I think that says it all. There was no reason to doubt what he did at Newbury."
Always held in high regard by Henderson, A Media Luz, placed at Group 3 level on the Flat in France, was beaten on her first two British starts and fell last time when in contention at Kempton.
However, ridden by Barry Geraghty, she travelled strongly on this occasion and eased to a comfortable victory from Pantxoa.
Fred Winter Novices' Hurdle leading contender best-price odds:
This table displays the current best-price available for each horse with odds updated in real-time. To claim a free bet from any of these bookmakers click the links below:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Another winner at Huntingdon today was Cork All Star, who already has a Festival success on his CV, and he could return to Prestbury Park to bid for more glory after today's success in a hunter chase. The 2007 Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner is now as short as 7/1 for the Christie's Foxhunter Chase, although is available at a standout 12/1 with William Hill.
Foxhunter Chase leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Also today, Brampour staked his JCB Triumph Hurdle claim with a convincing victory in the Bravo Company 40 Cdo Royal Marines Maiden Hurdle at Taunton.
In an incident-packed race which saw two fallers at the last hurdle, the winner made several mistakes throughout, but jockey Harry Skelton looked to have matters in hand before the drama unfurled.
"It was good for him to get his head in front and he has obviously improved from his last run," said Skelton.
"I don't know how strong the race was but he stayed on from the last and did it well.
He was running over a mile and seven (furlongs) on the Flat, so he is a horse who obviously stays well and he was just getting going after the last really."
Well thought of by trainer Paul Nicholls, Brampour was cut to 10/1 (from 16) by Ladbrokes, however other bookmakers were less impressed and the four-year-old was still available with some at best-price 16/1 at the time of writing.
Triumph Hurdle leading contenders best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
The other noteable market mover today was Wayward Prince, who was cut from 16/1 for the RSA Chase to best-price 12/1. The Ian Williams-trained seven-year-old's Cheltenham Festival credentials were boosted last weekend when he maintained his unbeaten record over fences by winning the Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby, despite hitting a flat spot in the second circuit.
RSA Chase leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Meanwhile, Cheltenham Festival regular Garde Champetre confirmed his well-being ahead of next month's meeting when readily justifying favouritism in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Punchestown yesterday.
Held up in rear in testing conditions on the Bank Course, the Enda Bolger trained twelve-year-old was gradually eased into contention by regular pilot Nina Carberry, before picking up Lord Nellerie between the final two fences and being ridden out to score a shade cosily.
Frank Berry, owner JP McManus' racing manager, said: "Garde Champetre got the job done but wasn't as sharp as usual. He isn't getting younger but jumped adequately and while we'll see how he comes out of this, the Cross Country race at Cheltenham will be his next step."
Garde Champetre relinquished his Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase crown at the Festival last year having landed the prestigious prize in 2008 and 2009.
Cross Country Chase leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Saturday's Totesport Trophy at Newbury will almost inevitably offer some more Cheltenham clues - the race has been the most significant handicap in terms of featuring Cheltenham Festival winners the following month, Spirit River being the latest when winning last year's Coral Cup at 14/1, having finished 17th at Newbury following a terrible mistake at the third-last flight when travelling strongly.
Spirit River became the 11th Festival winner to have contested the Totesport Trophy from its last 20 runnings. Keep a note of any top-four finisher on Saturday, as seven of those then made the frame or won at Cheltenham, with Make A Stand and Spirit Leader following up their Newbury successes with another at the Festival, in the Champion Hurdle and Coral Cup respectively. Of those 11 Festival winners to run in the Totesport Trophy, six won the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, three took the Coral Cup and two went on to win the Champion Hurdle.
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