Ground proves Lalor's undoing as Dynamite Dollars enters Arkle picture
The horse who was expected to win this race but did not is still a shorter price for the Racing Post Arkle than the horse who was not expected to win here but did.
That might initially sound odd, but after Dynamite Dollars reversed Cheltenham form with Lalor at Sandown on Saturday, you sensed Paul Nicholls was simply happy, and a bit surprised, that his smart novice has become a championship contender.
On the first day of this meeting 12 months ago Dynamite Dollars was beaten 31 lengths in the Grade 2 novice hurdle. Thereafter he lost another two races over hurdles at a far lower level than this Grade 1, in which he overhauled gallant front-runner Ornua to win under Harry Cobden.
A length and three-quarters separated the first two in the Randox Health-backed Henry VIII Novices' Chase, with ten lengths back to Lalor, who had been so impressive on his Cheltenham chasing debut but on this occasion struggled in the mud, just as he had in last season's Betfair Hurdle.
Even so, Lalor is no bigger than 9-1 for the Arkle – and generally shorter – whereas Dynamite Dollars is as big as 20-1. Monday's Plumpton winner Kalashnikov is now clear market leader at between 11-4 and 4-1.
Racing Post Arkle odds and possible runners
Nicholls said: "As I said in the paper this morning, different track, different ground, different day, who knows?
"I thought he was a bit dull in his coat when he ran at Cheltenham. He still ran well but I knew he was better than that, which is why we ran today, hoping to turn the tables."
Henry VIII winners for Paul Nicholls
Year | Horse | Jockey |
1998 | Dines | Tony McCoy |
2003 | Thisthatandtother | Ruby Walsh |
2007 | Marodima | Sam Thomas |
2011 | Al Ferof | Ruby Walsh |
2013 | Hinterland | Daryl Jacob |
2014 | Vibrato Valtat | Noel Fehily |
2018 | Dynamite Dollars | Harry Cobden |
Asked if he sees his seventh Henry VIII victor as an Arkle candidate, Nicholls added: "I suppose you have to think that. We'll probably go to Kempton for the Wayward Lad and then work it out from there.
"This time last year you wouldn't have entertained running him in a Grade 1 against Lalor but physical improvement in horses from year to year can be astonishing. He's an exciting horse."
Lalor's rider Richard Johnson was adamant he is still looking forward to the Arkle, as is trainer Kayley Woollacott.
"It was the same problem we had at Newbury," she said. "He couldn't get into the race on the ground but at least he has had more experience over fences and he jumped well, bar being slow at one.
"I had been concerned about the ground, and he does look a lot better on better ground, but having won a Grade 1 on soft before we felt we had to take the chance."
Lalor's next chance is likely to come in late January at Doncaster.
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Published on 8 December 2018inReports
Last updated 15:35, 8 December 2018
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