Sky Bet cut the Paul Nicholls-trained Pasco to 25s from 40/1 for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival following his easy win in the Rooney/Hall Beginners’ Chase at Newbury on Thursday.
The dashing grey jumped well throughout but wasn’t hard pressed for the win as he eased home 13 lengths ahead of Isn’t That Lucky.
Straw Bear disappointed once again over fences and he is now 50/1 for the Arkle with Sky Bet, but has been removed from many a bookmakers’ list for the Festival showpiece.
Nicholls said of the 8/11 winning favourite afterwards: “This was always his target, he just needed the run at Exeter but he was sharper today.”
However, the champion trainer h
ad a warning for punters who might fancy Pasco for the Arkle.
He continued: “I don’t think an up and down track like Cheltenham will suit him, he needs a galloping track.
“He’ll definitely get further as he gets older and we might step him up in trip next time.”
“He might come back here for a two-mile-two-furlong race over Christmas as a flat track suits him.”
Deep Purple was introduced into the Arkle betting at 25/1 by the Harrogate firm after winning the Audrey Chudleigh Memorial Beginners’ Chase chase at Taunton.
Evan Williams’ charge went through the top of a couple of fences but in the main jumped soundly and boldly under Paul Moloney to record a three and a quarter length success from Laredo Sound.
It was the seven-year-old’s second start over fences following his fourth on chasing debut at Wetherby earlier in the month.