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13:30Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:10Arkle Chase
14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30Champion Hurdle
16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30National Hunt Chase
13:30Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle)
14:10Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50Coral Cup Hurdle
15:30Champion Chase
16:10(ABANDONED) Cross Country Chase
16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Arkle Chase
14:10 Cheltenham Festival
2024-03-12
Winner: £98,472.5
Runners: 10
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 13
Distance: 1m7f199y
The My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase, run on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, is the premier race during the jumps season for the speedier novice chasers as it is run over the minimum trip of 2m. As a result the Grade 1 presents a fierce test of accurate jumping at speed. It has been won by some of the greatest horses in the history of jump racing, including Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre and Altior, who all went on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following season.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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10(0)
23/161
Quilixios
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
11-7
147
151
2021 Triumph Hurdle winner; returned from 20 months off with game success on chasing debut at Limerick in October and impressed with his jumping when scoring more comfortably at Naas (2m, soft) in January; yard took this race with Sizing Europe and Put The Kettle On, both subsequent Champion Chase winners; open to further progress over fences and he's one more to consider.
9(0)
3-3212
My Mate Mozzie
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: Gavin Cromwell
8
11-7
150
157
Useful dual-purpose performer who gained an easy C&D success (good) in October and chased home Found A Fifty when the outsider of four for Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) on Boxing Day; faces stiffest task to date and he'll need a career best in a new headgear combination, but he's still going the right way; drying ground would probably help his cause.
4(0)
102-F1
Hunters Yarn
-
J: Daryl Jacob
T: W P Mullins
7
11-7
153
161
Useful over hurdles, twice a 2m winner before finishing in midfield when second favourite for last year's County; campaigned away from the other big guns in Irish novice chases this season, falling at the last at Fairyhouse with the race at his mercy then making amends on the same course (2m1f, soft) in January with lots in hand; harder to pin down than some of these and it would be no surprise at all were he to notch another personal best today.
3(0)
21-11U
Gaelic Warrior
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
157
164
Enigmatic but hugely talented, runner-up in the 2022 Fred Winter (hot favourite) and the 2023 Baring Bingham; signed off last term with 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle win at Punchestown; impressive scorer over fences at Punchestown (2m3f, soft) and Limerick (2m3f, heavy; easily beat Il Etait Temps) before disappointing at Leopardstown (well held by sole rival when unseating rider at the last) in February; swift jumper in the main but can also be guessy and go to his right; carries risks but he's the one to beat in a first-time hood if putting everything together at 2m.
1(0)
518-F3
Authorised Speed
-
J: David Noonan
T: Gary Moore
7
11-7
134
146
Fifth in the Champion Bumper in 2022; useful form in novice hurdles last season; let down by his jumping in his two goes over fences, falling two out at Ascot (2m1f, good to soft) with the race at his mercy then making numerous mistakes at Plumpton; would be a surprise winner.
6(0)
5-1U31
JPR One
-
J: Brendan Powell
T: Joe Tizzard
7
11-7
150
162
Jumped superbly and looked all over the winner prior to stumbling and unseated his rider at the last here in November; tame response to pressure in Grade 1 novice at Sandown three weeks later but he was right back on track when narrowly seeing off Matata in Grade 2 at Lingfield (2m, soft; idled) last time; doesn't have much to find on the figures and must be respected.
7(0)
-12214
Master Chewy
-
J: Tom Bellamy
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
7
11-7
150
157
Ordinary over hurdles (well held in last season's Baring Bingham) but a different proposition over fences, his jumping notably sound on his first four runs which included a smooth Grade 2 novice win at Kempton (2m, good to soft) in December; a below-par effort behind JPR One at Lingfield last time is best ignored as he was virtually brought down at the first by errant stablemate Matata; still has untapped potential and can seriously outrun his odds.
2(0)
4-1212
Found A Fifty
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-7
154
162
Well beaten in two Grade 1 novice hurdles last spring but has quickly reached a much higher level over fences, seeming well suited by positive tactics and scoring at Down Royal (2m3f, soft) in November and Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding; beat My Mate Mozzie) in December; another fine effort when headed final strides by Il Etait Temps in the Irish Arkle five weeks ago; jumps soundly if sometimes to the right; should make another bold bid.
5(0)
52-121
Il Etait Temps
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
155
163
Diminutive 6yo whose nimble jumping has enabled him to match his smart hurdles form over fences; hammered by Gaelic Warrior at Limerick in December but successful at Thurles and Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding/soft) on either side of that, the latter a Grade 1 in last-gasp fashion from Found A Fifty; one of the leading candidates on form, but has been below par in fifth in the Triumph and Supreme at the last two Festivals.
8(0)
16-122
Matata
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
6
11-7
148
161
Trail-blazing front-runner who made all on chasing debut at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in October and was collared only close home here (2m, heavy) on New Year's Day; again ran well when edged out by JPR One in Grade 2 at Lingfield (2m, soft) in January; can look a tricky ride and jumps to his left, sometimes markedly so, but he's not fully exposed and cannot be ruled out.
RACING POST TIP
Master Chewy
Willie Mullins has won five of the last nine runnings and again holds a strong hand, with the mercurial Gaelic Warrior the pick of his three contenders and the one to beat overall as long as his erratic jumping passes its most searching test. However, in a more open Arkle than usual the suggestion is MASTER CHEWY, who had an excuse at Lingfield last time and had previously impressed with his sound jumping technique. A well-run 2m should suit him down to the ground and he may well record a personal best. Cases can be made for quite a few of the others, with Quilixios and Hunters Yarn next on the list. Dublin Racing Festival form is represented by Il Etait Temps and Found A Fifty, while JPR One and the selection's stablemate Matata are closely matched and impossible to rule out.
ARKLE CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | El Fabiolo | -111 | 6 | 11-10F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2022 | Edwardstone | B1111 | 8 | 5/2F | Alan King | Tom Cannon |
| 2021 | Shishkin | 11-111 | 7 | 4-9F | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2020 | Put The Kettle On | 11121 | 6 | 16-1 | Henry De Bromhead | Aidan Coleman |
| 2019 | Duc De Genievres | 56-231 | 5 | 5-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2018 | Footpad | 43-111 | 6 | 5-6F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2017 | Altior | 1-1111 | 7 | 1-4F | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2016 | Douvan | 11-111 | 6 | 1-4F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Un De Sceaux | 11-F11 | 7 | 4-6F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Western Warhorse | F1-261 | 6 | 33-1 | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
ARKLE CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Aged six or seven, 9/10
- RPR hurdles rating of at least 149, 9/10
- Finished in the first two on all completed chase starts, 9/10
- Rated within 9lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10 (seven were top rated)
- Adjusted RPR of at least 165, 9/10
- Three to five chase runs, 7/10
- SP no bigger than 5-1, 8/10 (exceptions 16-1 and 33-1)
Other factors
- Nine winners had previously won a 2m-2m1f Graded chase.
- Six winners had previously run at the festival, showing mixed form in a variety of hurdle races.
We have all the best Cheltenham Betting offers ahead of placing your bets on the Arkle Chase
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - ARKLE CHASE 2023
EL FABIOLO had shown himself to be a really strong stayer at this distance when surging clear at the end of a fast run Irish Arkle. This was his first visit to Cheltenham on just his third chase start, and there was a concern he could again give at least one fence a thump. However, he managed to avoid the big mistake, and his rider never panicked despite falling a few lengths off the two leaders at the top of the hill, getting there in plenty of time and taking the bold route up the inside two out. Jonbon and Saint Roi filled the placings for owner JP McManus.