Prolific An Tailliur assumes favouritism in opening race at Cheltenham

An Tailliur has surged into favouritism for the opening conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle (1.10) having been gambled on to land a remarkable sixth win in a row.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained five-year-old has form figures of 211111 since being switched to handicaps, and has replaced Skatman at the top of the market for the 2m5f contest and is now as short as 11-4 after being as big as 5-1 this morning.

An Tailliur has a 4lb rise in the weights to defy after completing the five-timer at Exeter last month, but that is largely offset by Kevin Brogan's 3lb claim.

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In the concluding 2m½f novice handicap hurdle (4.00), Brorson has also been well-backed and is now 7-1 (from 12) to break his maiden for trainer Martin Keighley.

The five-year-old has placed in all four of his starts under rules, including when a three quarter-length second in a course-and-distance maiden at the Showcase meeting last month.

Editeur Du Gite – winner of the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting – has shortened into a general 7-2 (from 4) to get back to winning ways in the 2m handicap chase (1.45), having unseated at Ascot on his seasonal return, with the market headed by last year's winner Magic Saint at 5-2.

Updated at midday

Cheltenham conditions quicken overnight as November meeting begins

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse expects conditions to remain the same throughout the November meeting having changed the going to good, good to soft in places on the chase and hurdles track on Friday morning.

Just 1.5mm of rain has fallen at the track following a largely dry night, which has seen conditions quicken from good to soft, good in places on the main track, while it remains good on the cross-country track ahead of its use for the first time this season.

With a mild and dry forecast set for the weekend, the going is unlikely to change over the three days ahead of the opening day of the fixture according to Claisse.

He said: "We had a dry night and just let the going go to good, good to soft in places on the chase and hurdles course, although it was marginal at the time. We've had 1.5mm of rain since then and it remains good on the cross-country.

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"I would think it'll remain the same throughout given our experience in October when the ground rode a bit slower on day two, but I'd expect the ground to hold nicely over the three days."

Like many tracks across the country, Cheltenham has experienced a mild and dry autumn since the Showcase meeting last month, with officials forced to water to maintain the ground conditions ahead of the November meeting.

Claisse added: "We had one spell of rain the following weekend after the Showcase, which amounted to 40mm, but other than that we haven't had any since then a fortnight ago. We've irrigated the chase and hurdles track twice and the cross-country three times, and four times in places."

Updated at 8.30am

Market movers

1.10 2. An Tailliur 11-4 (from 5-1)
1.45 5. Editeur Du Gite 7-2 (from 4-1)
4.00 8. Brorson 7-1 (from 14-1)

Updated at 11.50am

Non-runners

2.20 1. Fancy Foundations (Going)
3.30 6. Kihavah (Self Cert)
4.00 11. Byzantine Empire (Self Cert) 16. Flamenco de Kerser (Self Cert)

Updated at 10.45am

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1.45 Cheltenham: He'll be back in the mix again' - Paul Nicholls on last season's winner

2.20 Cheltenham: 'I'm really looking forward to it' - Skelton excited as he unleashes My Drogo

2.55 Cheltenham: Can Balko Des Flos emulate cross-country stalwart Balthazar King?

3.30 Cheltenham: How good is Off Your Rocco? Hyde test next for exciting novice hurdler

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