The market has been all over the place over the last few days following the weekend's action and injury scares.

Mille Chief missed the Adonis Hurdle through lameness as he is now a serious doubt for the race. Fingers crossed they can source the problem as soon as possible so all is not lost as they will have to get him working again soon or there is little point heading to Cheltenham if he is not in tip-top shape. It doesn't sound promising though.

As for Secant Star, his form was franked last week by Capellanus who looks a live hope for the 'Fred Winter' but another leading Irish hope in Pittoni was beaten into third against older horses at the weekend and is now a major doubt as he finished "clinically abnormal". I imagine Paul Nicholls is kicking himself for not entering the impressive Dovecote Hurdle winner on Saturday Escort'Men as he bolted up so he will head to Aintree instead. On the same card Nicky Henderson's Soldatino won the Adonis Hurdle in the absence of Mille Chief on his British debut and just his second hurdling start. I doubt he beat much as Ultimate didn't run his usual race on testing ground as he barely stays two miles so he wouldn't be for me.

Given the problems with Mille Chief, Alaivan is the new favourite but I've got him down as a soft-ground horse so usual Friday Festival ground could catch him out and if Mille Chief doesn't make it, it looks like the Irish will have the front three in the betting.