The Cheltenham Festival received a boost with the news that highly-rated Tombstone has been added to the Champion Hurdle field.
Trainer Gordon Elliott spoke with owners the Gigginstown House Stud, and they both agreed they should go for one of the festival big races.
The seven-year-old beat Jezki at Gowran last time out, and that was enough to convince the Irish-based connections to pay the money to add him to the field.
Elliott told his betfair blog: ”It looks an open race this year so we have decided to supplement Tombstone for the Champion Hurdle.
“He has come out of the Red Mills race in great shape so we are happy to take our chances.
“Obviously he needs to improve but he hasn’t got many miles on the clock and the turnaround in form with Jezki was very encouraging.”
Following the news of Tombstone being added, he was installed at 12/1 by Ladbrokes.
Nicky Henderson’s River Wylde has been cut to 12/1 for the Supreme after an improve win in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton.
Another of Henderson’s fancies for the Supreme, Charli Parcs – so its price drift to 10/1 following a fall in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “After Charli Parcs’ fall in the Adonis Hurdle, it looks like Nicky Henderson’s first string in the Supreme could be River Wylde, with his odds being more than halved after his win.”
The Adonis was won by Master Blueyes and as a result, he was cut to 16/1 from 25s for the Triumph Hurdle.
Forge Meadow has been cut to 5/1 from 10/1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle after impressing at Naas.