THE ground is starting to dry out at long last and speed is becoming more of a factor in key races leading up to the Cheltenham Festival.

At Kempton on Saturday, Paul Nicholls’ Zubayr and Nick Scholfield made up plenty of ground from three out in the Grade 2 Betbright Adonis Juvenile Hurdle and quickly went clear to beat Azzurri by nearly four lengths with Khezerabad a close third. It was an eye-catching performance by the son of Epsom Derby winner Authorized and he is as low as 6/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.