Gordon Elliott’s gelding grabbed the attention of Cheltenham punters with a winning chasing debut.
Mengli Khan laid down a marker for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with a commanding victory on Wednesday afternoon at Punchestown. On his chasing debut, the talented gelding went off the 8/11 favourite and did not disappoint.
Gordon Elliott’s charge was priced at 14/1 in the Arkle Chase market prior to the appearance at Punchestown and has since been slashed to 6/1 by many bookies, with a best price of 7/1 still available in places.
Despite some early wobbles, the five-year-old took to the challenge of fences gamely with Davy Russell aboard as he cruised to a ten-length victory at Punchestown.
Third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season narrowly behind Summerville Boy and Kalashnikov, Elliott was excited at the prospect of sending the highly-rated hurdler over fences and looks to have another hopeful for the festival next March.
Now only Lalor (5/1) and Kalashnikov (6/1), both also thoroughly dominant on their recent chasing debuts, are ahead of him in the Arkle Chase market.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “Mengli Khan's form late last year had him down as one of the favourites for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle so punters should maybe keep that in mind before piling into him for the Arkle, but he could have done little more in his first run over fences today.”
