Paisley Park and Santini on the drift as punters look elsewhere
Paisley Park and Santini, leading fancies in their respective races on Cheltenham's Trials day, are on the drift in the betting.
In the Cleeve Hurdle (3.35), Paisley Park is out to 5-6 (from 4-6) with bet365 to secure a magnificent seventh victory, with rivals If The Cap Fits and Summerville Boy on the move this morning.
If The Cap Fits makes his first appearance since winning the Ascot Hurdle last November and is the clear 5-2 second-favourite. Summerville Boy is now 7-1 from 8-1 to spring a surprise and land his first Grade 1 since winning the Supreme at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.
The Tom George-trained eight-year-old also showed a liking for the course last time out when landing the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle on New Year's Day but this will be the first time he has raced beyond 2m4f.
Santini meanwhile has been leapfrogged for favouritism in the Cotswold Chase (2.25) with the market now headed by Bristol De Mai at 2-1.
Last season's RSA Chase runner-up secured an underwhelming victory at Sandown last November on his only run of the campaign so far and makes his first appearance since undergoing a wind operation.
The ground is soft at Prestbury Park with this morning's GoingStick reading 5.9.
Colin Tizzard and Robbie Power are renowned for their red-hot partnership and combine with Ainchea in the closing 2m1f handicap hurdle (4.10) at Cheltenham. He has been backed into 7-2 from 5-1 with Sky Bet.
The seven-year-old remains relatively unexposed with only five races under his belt, and three weeks ago finished ninth after an absence of almost two years.
However, he showed plenty of promise on his first three runs and wears a tongue-tie for the first time.
At Doncaster, Floressa is now the clear favourite to take the Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (2.40), with rival Lady Buttons available at around 2-1 having been 13-8 last night.
The five-year-old has won three of her five starts for Nicky Henderson, finishing second in the other two, with the good to soft conditions likely to be in her favour.
Roderick Duncan, clerk of the course at Doncaster, said this morning: "It was dry overnight and the going is unchanged. But we have moved the hurdles dividing rail out from yesterday where possible, to give fresh ground, which has increased distances. The forecast is for it to stay dry."
Over on the all-weather at Lingfield, three-year-old Dartington has been hammered in the betting, now the 3-1 favourite for the 7f maiden (2.55) from 10-1.
He finished seventh on debut at Kempton three weeks ago but appeared quite green and will once again be ridden by Martin Dwyer.
Non-runners
Doncaster Hamilton's Fantasy (3.50)
Fairyhouse School Boy Hours (12.25)
Uttoxeter All Good Things (4.15)
Kempton Taurean Dancer (6.00)
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