'The best two-miler we've had' - Eldorado Allen strikes in Grade 2 at Cheltenham

Eldorado Allen was made a general 20-1 chance for the Arkle after victory in the Grade 2 novice chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The six-year-old jumped boldly but looked second best on the turn for home with Gumball powering ahead. But the Philip Hobbs-trained runner had a nasty fall at the penultimate fence allowing Robbie Power and the Colin Tizzard-trained runner to coast home.

Tizzard said: "We were struggling for a month for any consistency but they've been fine now for the last ten days. It's a long, old season anyway and in hindsight we're happy.

"Some of his hurdle form was outstanding. He's a big, strong horse and I think he's the best two-miler we've had. His jumping was pretty slick today."

He finished 19 lengths ahead of Quel Destin, while 11-10 favourite Fusil Raffles failed to finish.

Bookmakers are undecided what to make of his win, he is as big as 25-1 with Betfair Sportsbook but a slim 12-1 chance with Unibet.

Darver Star disappoints as Felix Desjy earns 14-1 Arkle quote with Grade 2 win

Felix Desjy made it two from two over fences in Punchestown's Grade 2 Mongey Communications Novice Chase on Saturday, and the Gigginstown runner now a general 14-1 chance for the Arkle.

Felix Desjy: backing up an impressive debut win with victory at Punchestown on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old, who was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler, was backing up an impressive debut win at Killarney to reel in front-runnng outsider Sizing Pottsie in determined fashion.

Winning jockey Jack Kennedy said: "Felix Desjy is very relaxed now which is great. He put in a great round of jumping. I thought Sizing Pottsie got away from me a little bit but my lad loves that ground and he keeps galloping."

Saturday results and replays

Champion Hurdle third Darver Star – sent off an 11-10 favourite – finished an underwhelming third and is now a general 33-1 (from 14-1) for the Arkle after his defeat.

His trainer Gavin Cromwell said: "The ground was against him. He jumped well on the whole but you won't see the best of him until he gets some better ground."

Shishkin still tops the betting for the opening Grade 1 novice chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, but Felix Desjy is considered a serious contender and is as short as 10-1 with Unibet but as big as 16-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair.

Elliott enjoyed a quickfire double on the day as Duffle Coat extended his unbeaten record to four in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He galloped on strongly to beat Adagio by five lengths and is challenging for Triumph Hurdle favouritism with stablemate Quilixios. Duffle Coat is as big as 16-1 with SkyBet, William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook but just 7-1 with Unibet.

Asterion Forlonge 20-1 for Cheltenham after avoiding scare in chase debut win

Willie Mullins' exciting prospect Asterion Forlonge avoided a blunder at the second-last to make a successful chasing debut at Punchestown on Saturday – and is as short as 20-1 for the Marsh at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

Asterion Forlonge and Paul Townend clear the last in the novice chase at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The six-year-old is remembered for jumping right and causing a bit of chaos when fourth in last season's Supreme and he repeated that in the Roche Group At Vista Beginners' Chase on Saturday.

Although the 4-11 favourite travelled best, he gave Paul Townend a scare at the second-last when jumping right again, but he was a lot sharper over the final fence to go on and beat Conflated by six lengths.

Asterion Forlonge remains a 33-1 chance for the Arkle but was cut by a number of firms to 20-1 (from 25-1) for the Marsh.

Mullins said: "He'll be going out in trip, anywhere from 2m4f to 3m. He jumped well apart from a couple of mistakes but, for his first attempt [over fences], I was happy. He'll improve."

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