Cheltenham Festival betting markets shook up after brilliant weekend of racing

It was all change to a number of betting markets over the weekend following some cracking action on both sides of the Irish Sea.

At home, Ballyburn made a winning start over fences by strolling to victory under Paul Townend in the Conway Piling Beginners Chase at Punchestown on Saturday to maintain his 100% record.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old secured a 13-length victory at the Co Kildare venue and was made the 2-1 favourite from 5-2 for the Arkle with Paddy Power and Betfair immediately afterwards. That price has been cut again since and he is now as short as 6/4 for the two-mile contest next March.

READ MORE: Fact To File leads home a JP McManus 1-2 as young guns rule John Durkan at Punchestown

READ MORE:Brighterdaysahead dethrones State Man in thrilling finish to Unibet Morgiana Hurdle

The Morgiana Hurdle looked set to be a clash between stablemates State Man and Lossiemouth before the latter of those was ruled out early on Saturday.

But Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy and Brighterdaysahead had different ideas, with the mare handing State Man his first defeat on Irish soil since he fell on his debut for Mullins almost three years ago.

Elliott has made no secret of how highly he thinks of this five-year-old and she was cut into as short as 4/1 from 14/1 straight after her Morgiana win. However, that price has eased out to 8/1 with many firms since and Lossiemouth, despite not running at the weekend, is now the market leader for the day one Cheltenham feature.

The John Durkan was an absolutely cracking contest on Sunday as Fact To File led home a 1-2 for owner JP McManus as last season's novices came to the fore. He landed the Punchestown feature at odds of 7/2, narrowly beating Spillane's Tower, and is now as short as 2/1 for next year's Gold Cup.

However, Mullins was quick to say not to rule Galopin Des Champs out of the Gold Cup picture just yet as he goes in seek of his third victory in the race in 2025.

There was some brilliant racing in England too over the last few days. Although the results didn't change the Cheltenham ante-post markets as much as the action in Ireland.

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