An Cathaoir Mor was given a 16/1 first show quote by Sky Bet for the Arkle after taking a huge step up in class in his stride to land the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.
However, the victory came as a mixed blessing for winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, whose Sizing Europe lost his position as joint favourite in Sky Bet’s Arkle betting.
Sky Bet spokesman Michael Shinners explained: "An Cathaoir Mor looks an improver but he was beaten fair and square by Captain Cee Bee at Naas last month and that form looks very strong now.’
‘As a result, we have clipped Captain Cee Bee half a point into 9/2 clear favouritism ahead of 5/1 chance Sizing Europe for what looks one of the hottest Arkle renewals in years.’
Solwhit is the new 4/1 joint favourite (from 5s) with Sky Bet for the Champion Hurdle after passing his ‘biggest test’ to date in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle.
His victory in the Grade 1 event was billed as his toughest ask yet by trainer Charles Byrnes, whose charge took his winning sequence at the highest level to five from six at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Sky Bet’s spokesman Michael Shinners said: ‘He fully deserves to head the market in our book with Zaynar and is one of the few in the field without any questions to answer.’
‘He had excuses when his winning sequence came to an end in a farcical running of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and now heads the Irish challenge for a wide open renewal of the hurdling blue riband.’
Rite of Passage is 10/1 from 12s for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Sky Bet after making a winning debut over hurdles in the opening Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
Dermot Weld last season’s Festival Champion bumper third an entry in the Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle and Sky Bet offer identical odds of 10/1 (from 12s) for his alternative Festival target.
Follow this link to Sky Bet to see a full antepost betting list ahead of this year's Cheltenham Festival.
Champion Hurdle, Sky Bet betting:
4/1 Zaynar, Solwhit (from 5s), 11/2 Go Native, 7/1 Binocular, 8/1 Khyber Kim, 14/1 Voler La Vedette, Medermit, 16/1 Dunguib, Punjabi, Celestial Halo (eased out to 9s), Starluck, Sublimity (from 25s), 25/1 Donnas Palm (from 40s), 33/1 Rock Noir, 40/1 American Trilogy, Quevega, 50/1 Jumbo Rio, 66/1 bar
