What we learned: the festival markets are wide open and Cobden remains the jockey to follow

The week culminated in a blockbuster Saturday, headlined by Cheltenham's Trials day. It often sheds light on the major players at the Cheltenham Festival but this year it posed more questions than answers with a number of surprise results. Here are three things we learned from this week's racing . . .

1. The Gold Cup market has been blown open

The one constant in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup market has been the short-priced favourite Galopin Des Champs, impressive winner of the John Durkan last month.

He will test his festival credentials in the Irish Gold Cup next week after three of his potential British rivals contested a competitive running of the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

The Gold Cup market marginally preferred Grand National winner Noble Yeats to Protektorat, an impressive winner of the Betfair Chase, before the race, then along came Ahoy Senor.

After struggling for form this season, Ahoy Senor bounced back with a much-improved round of jumping to beat Sounds Russian, with Noble Yeats and Protektorat in third and fourth.

He was cut to as low as 10-1 (from 50s) for the Gold Cup, while Noble Yeats was adjusted to 10-1 (from 7s) with Betfair and Protektorat was pushed out to 20-1, after being available at 8-1.

Ahoy Senor: the Cotswold Chase winner had his Gold Cup odds cut to 10-1Credit: John Grossick

Those who backed Galopin Des Champs will be happy with their position but the picture beneath him in the market, particularly among the British hopefuls, looks far murkier after Saturday.

2. We have a new Champion Chase contender

Last year's winner Energumene looked like the horse they all had to beat in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase but things did not go to plan in the rearranged Clarence House Chase.

He was odds-on for the festival before the Grade 1, which was moved from Ascot, and was preferred in the market to Edwardstone, who was so impressive in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

Editeur Du Gite: triumphed over Edwardstone to win the Clarence House ChaseCredit: John Grossick

It looked as though the Clarence House would simply be a dress rehearsal for March but Edwardstone and odds-on favourite Energumene could manage only third behind Editeur Du Gite.

The 14-1 shot emerged as a surprise package for the Champion Chase after beating Nube Negra in the Desert Orchid Chase in December but he should now be considered a leading player.

In the colours of 2014 Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy, Editeur De Gite was headed on the run to the line but rallied under talented conditional Niall Houlihan to beat Edwardstone by a head.

He was fourth in the Grand Annual at last year's festival but after being cut to 5-1 (from 25s) for the Champion Chase, he will almost certainly have a far loftier target this campaign.

3. Harry Cobden is the man of the moment

It is one thing to be given the opportunity to ride fancied horses regularly on the big days but quite another to deliver results as efficiently and consistently as in-form jockey Harry Cobden.

Stage Star (Harry Cobden, right): first leg of a Cheltenham doubleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Barely a weekend goes by without his having a Graded winner this season, with his most notable success coming on Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

He continued his excellent run of form with a quickfire double at Cheltenham with Stage Star in a novice handicap chase and Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power-sponsored handicap chase.

His ride on Il Ridoto was certainly worthy of praise, particularly his strength in the finish when it looked as though the favourite Fugitif was coming with a winning run.

Cobden will be desperate to keep the momentum going with the likes of Gold Cup contender Bravemansgame and Ballymore favourite Hermes Allen lined up for him at the festival.

Read these next:

'It would be a great story if she took to it' - Tony Mullins nervous before star mare's jumps debut  

What's on this week: Galopin Des Champs, Honeysuckle and Facile Vega among Dublin Racing Festival stars 

Members' Club special offer: get exclusive tips and insight FREE for one month 

Sign up to receive The Ante-Postman, Robbie Wilders' top weekly newsletter. Get weekend tips, festival fancies and big-race selections delivered straight to your inbox.