Arkle favourite Lalor bids to follow in footsteps of Altior in Henry VIII Chase

randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 1m7½f, 4yo+ | ITV4/RUK

Lalor, tipped for stardom after beating a useful field on his debut over fences at Cheltenham last month, heads six runners for an intriguing Grade 1.

Altior in 2016 and Contraband in 2004 are the only winners of this race to go on to land the Racing Post Arkle at Cheltenham in March, but the Kayley Woollacott-trained Lalor is vying for favouritism for the festival race and is likely to start at cramped odds here, although he faces some distinctly promising opposition.

Lalor and Monday's Plumpton winner Kalashnikov head the Arkle market at around 4-1, and Woollacott said of her six-year-old: “We’re bringing him out a little bit quicker than ideal, but it’s a Grade 1.

“He jumped fantastically well round Cheltenham and I'm hoping he can put up a similar performance at Sandown.”

She added: “We were really happy with him when he schooled on Wednesday.”

Lalor enjoys plenty of give in the ground, but Woollacott is hoping the going doesn’t turn heavy at the Esher track.

“He's won in testing conditions before, but it'll be bit of a concern if it gets very heavy,” she said.

Pick of the opposition could prove to be Gary Moore’s Diakali, winner of his three chase starts this season, most recently when beating Sister Sibyl by nine lengths at Cheltenham in October.

The nine-year-old comes out top on official ratings – 2lb clear of Lalor – and Moore said: “Diakali is in great order. He hasn’t run on really soft ground for me before and it’s his toughest race so far, but he fully deserves his chance in a race like this.”

Dynamite Dollars, electric round Market Rasen when slamming Highway One O One by nine lengths in October, found Lalor too strong at Cheltenham subsequently.

The market suggested Dynamite Dollars would finish in front of Lalor last time, and the gelding’s trainer Paul Nicholls, who has won this three times since 2011, said: “He ran very well when finishing second to Lalor. It’s a different day on a different track, so who knows if he can turn the form round?”

Highway One O One went on to beat the Nicholls-trained Dolos by three-quarters of a length in a graduation chase at Carlisle, staying on resolutely in the closing stages.

That was his second win from three starts over fences, and his trainer Chris Gordon said: “Highway One O One is in really good form. He was very tough and gutsy when he won at Carlisle.

“With the way the ground is at Sandown – there has been loads of rain around – I’d like to think he’d be the right sort of horse to be coming up that hill.

“Lalor will be a tough nut to crack, but Highway One O One has definitely got an outside chance.”

Highway One O One: won graduation chase at Carlisle last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Pingshou, who was fourth behind Lalor at Cheltenham, represents the in-form Colin Tizzard team. “He's got it all to do, but he didn't run badly last time,” the trainer said.

“Two seasons ago he was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and, while it's a very hot race, he'd have a bit of a chance. He missed last season so that run has put him right and he's ready to go.”

An Irish-trained runner has never won this prize but Henry de Bromhead is represented by Ornua, who has the most chasing experience among the six runners, having won three of six over fences.

Second in the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown last time, De Bromhead will be hoping for better luck than when he last saddled a runner in this – Sizing Codelco unseating his rider at the first in the 2015 edition won by Moore's Ar Mad.

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