Cheltenham live: ground for festival updated to soft, heavy in places

The going at Cheltenham has changed significantly this morning and is now soft, heavy in places, having been soft, good to soft in places last night.

The ground was first updated to soft at the start of the day following 4mm of rain overnight, but was changed again just after 11.30am.

Of the going change, clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "That's often the way when you get rainfall overnight – it rests on the surface for a couple of hours before soaking in.

"It was borderline first thing but when we walked again we decided to call it heavy in places. It is heavy at the intersections of the Old and New courses.

"The forecast now is for no more rain until Wednesday evening."

Tuesday cards

The going on the cross country course is also soft, heavy in places with the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, featuring dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll, taking place on Wednesday.

In the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Abacadabras is now challenging Asterion Forlonge for favouritism with some bookmakers.

Abacadabras: challenging for favouritismCredit: Patrick McCann

Abacadabras was available at 11-2 last night but is now as short as 100-30 with William Hill to win the first race of the Cheltenham Festival. He is, however, still available at 9-2 with Paddy Power and Betway.

The six-year-old has won three of his four starts over hurdles this season, including an eight-length success in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on soft ground in December, and his only blemish came at the hands of red-hot Ballymore favourite Envoi Allen.

The news will not be welcomed by Joe Donnelly, who on Monday looked to have the Supreme sewn up as he owns Asterion Forlonge and Shishkin, who topped the ante-post betting.

But Shishkin has drifted markedly to a general 5-1 (from 3-1) on Monday, while Asterion Forlonge is also under threat at 10-3 (from 5-2).

Shishkin is not the only Nicky Henderson-trained runner whose price is going in the wrong direction, as Unibet Champion Hurdle hope Pentland Hills is now as big as 10-1.

Pentland Hills: returns to Cheltenham in the International Hurdle

Pentland Hills: landed the Triumph Hurdle on good to soft ground last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

The five-year-old was a general 11-2 chance for the day one highlight on Monday but is now third favourite behind stablemate Epatante and Cilaos Emery.

Pentland Hills landed the Triumph Hurdle and the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree on good to soft ground last year but has been beaten in two starts on soft and heavy ground this campaign.

Epatante, one of four runners in the race for seven-time winning trainer Henderson, is a best price 5-2 with Betway and Cilaos Emery is a standout 15-2 with the race sponsors.