The Arkle Challenge Trophy - Tuesday 13th March

You realy have no idea Ruby, Sprinter Sacre is not a normal horse. Nicky Henderson and Geraghty have both agreed that this is the most talented horse they've ever been involved with. Geraghty says he is better than Moscow Flyer, and believe you me Moscow Flyer was a very special horse.

If you cannot see how much talent this horse has then you may aswell give up the game, it is not normal for horse's to pull like a train as he did on Friday, and then still have loads left in the tank to cruise home on the bridle. I realy hope they do switch to the Champion Chase, though only time will tell

 

Shergar, I have to say, I was really impressed by Sprinter Sacre on Friday - definitely the best novice chasing performance over the distance I've seen this season, and plausibly for a bit before that. I've backed and laid all of the top three in the Arkle market for a profit on each, but I'd set it up with about twice the profit on Peddlers as the other two - I'm beginning to think that that was a mistake!

I think that SS is the most likely winner of the Arkle - I still hold that there is more to be seen from Peddlers Cross, and that the hill will play it's part - but whether or not there is quite That much more to be seen I don't know.

I don't, however, think it'd be good to pitch him at the Champion Chase. If you think about it, if Nicky Henderson thinks he's as good as you do, then if I was him, I'd be going to the Arkle this year then onto the Champion Chase next year. Sizing Europe is a good champion, and he's demolished some pretty solid fields this year. I'd be backing him over Sprinter Sacre. This year at least. Another year of experience into SS, and I expect him to go into the 2013 Champion Chase as favourite. As good as Sprinter Sacre is, I'd make him a short price for the Arkle, but at best 2-1 or so for the Champion Chase, and I don't really see the advantage to switching him to the bigger race where he's more likely to get beat, when he's such a young horse that there are plenty more years to go for the Champion prizes.

That's just my thoughts anyway. I must say if there was one thing I was disappointed with from this race, then it's that the bookies didn't push out Peddlers - impressive as SS was, there is still hope for PC and AF.

 

No doubt the horse is a serious talent and I think the Arkle is the right route especially for a horse who appeared not to get up the hill as well as expected last year - which makes the 12/1 quotes for the 2013 Gold Cup hard to fathom for me.
The horse has only ever gone further than 17f once in his career at on that occasion he was beaten by Frascati Park off levels at Ascot over 19f.
He could hack up by 20 lengths in the Arkle and I'd still need a hell of alot more convincing that he'd get the extra 10.5f in the Gold Cup

 

Latest entries after scracthing deadline:

THE RACING POST ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY CHASE​

Class 1, Grade One, Total Prize Fund £130,000, 2.05pm, Cheltenham, Tuesday, March 13, 2012, two miles. For novice 5-y-o & upwards, two miles. Weights: 11st 7lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 24, entries revealed January 26 (27 entries), scratchings deadline February 21 (15 remain), six-day confirmation stage March 7, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 20, 2012. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer

111-113 AL FEROF (FR) 7 John Hales Paul Nicholls
60-1321 ASTRACAD (FR) 6 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
0-26115 BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN (IRE) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
F1-11F1 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
210-P12 CALL THE POLICE (IRE) 9 DD Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
16250-1 CRISTAL BONUS (FR) 6 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
42-1U21 CUE CARD 6 Jean Bishop Colin Tizzard
323132 FOILDUBH (IRE) 8 John Ryan John Ryan IRE
32-1F11 KID CASSIDY (IRE) 6 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
0-11244 LUCKY WILLIAM (IRE) 8 Garden Kingdom Syndicate Tom Cooper IRE
4U411F MENORAH (IRE) 7 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
122326 NEAREST THE PIN (IRE) 7 Sox Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
120-112 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
1/11-111 SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
113-111 SPRINTER SACRE (FR) 6 Caroline Mould Nicky Henderson
15 entries remain after February 21 scratchings deadline

THE FOLLOWING 12 ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ALASI, BAGBER, BAILY GREEN (IRE), ESCORT'MEN (FR), FOR NON STOP (IRE), KUMBESHWAR, PACHA DU POLDER (FR), REALT MOR (IRE), SANCTUAIRE (FR), SHOT FROM THE HIP (GER), TAJWEED (IRE), ZAYNAR (FR)

 

Oddy - I think this was always the case with the Arkle but the top 5 or 6 ranked horses were always going to make this the race of the week for me...

 

111-113 AL FEROF (FR) 7 John Hales Paul Nicholls
60-1321 ASTRACAD (FR) 6 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies - Grand Annual
0-26115 BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN (IRE) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
F1-11F1 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE - Stay in Ireland unless soft
210-P12 CALL THE POLICE (IRE) 9 DD Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
16250-1 CRISTAL BONUS (FR) 6 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls - Jewson
42-1U21 CUE CARD 6 Jean Bishop Colin Tizzard
323132 FOILDUBH (IRE) 8 John Ryan John Ryan IRE - A possible but surely easier targets if he travels
32-1F11 KID CASSIDY (IRE) 6 J P McManus Nicky Henderson - Possibly straight to Aintree
0-11244 LUCKY WILLIAM (IRE) 8 Garden Kingdom Syndicate Tom Cooper IRE - A possible but surely easier targets if he travels
4U411F MENORAH (IRE) 7 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
122326 NEAREST THE PIN (IRE) 7 Sox Syndicate Tony Martin IRE - A possible but surely easier targets if he travels
120-112 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
1/11-111 SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE - RSA hopefully, but Jewson probably
113-111 SPRINTER SACRE (FR) 6 Caroline Mould Nicky Henderson


Can't see there being more than 8, and quite possibly less. Might be an idea to get your EW bets on the likes of Al Ferof/Cue Card/Menorah whilst the Bookies are holding 3 place antepost terms.

 

We should get used to small field Arkle's now with the introduction of the Jewson

 

I agree with all you say about Sprintre Sacre, Shergar, and this tallies with what Henderson's lads were saying last season. I expect him to win the Arkle despite his pulling but it could be an issue over a longer trip.

 

I don't remember ever actually looking forward to the Arkle. This years is the highlight of the festival for me. Maybe only behind Boston Bob in the Neptune.

 

I have watched the SS race a couple of times now, and an excellent round of jumping for sure and won very impressively.

However, there is no way, and I mean no way, that a horse who pulls like that can win a hot race like the Arkle against very, very good horses. Not in a million. I am adamant in my own mind that he can't win. He'll be out like a light up that hill.

So for me that leaves PC or Al Ferof. I like Menorah but just think he's a little bit short of top class. It's so tough to split PC and AF, so tough. But I'm siding with PC marginally. I can easily forgive his run behind SS LTO as that wasn't him for sure. He's such a warrior and I think he'll relish that hill after popping the last. We'll see, but not SS for me.

 

I know what you mean Nam, but Sprinter Sacre hasnt even had to be touched to beat Peddlers Cross and French Opera. That's the sign of a serious chaser. His jumping at speed is what puts daylight between him and the rest.

I know Peddlers was not himself at Kempton, but this will need to turn into a battle at in the home straight and I think Barry Geraghty will just let Sprinter Sacre go away from them before they get there and then if he jumps as well as he has been, he'll be very hard to stop with that sort of momentum.


Love both Peddlers and Al Ferof though, and they are horses to follow as they go up in trip

 

Yeah I can see your point Toppie. Geraghty yet to pop the question.

I know it's difficult to compare form across different years and different obstacles but SS travelled exactly the same in all of his hurdles races last year (arguably equally as impressive). He then got to Cheltenham in the Supreme, travelled like the winner and ran out of puff. OK, he's been very good this year, but I am sticking with if he pulls that hard he cannot win at Chelts.

In my opinion, he's not tough and you have to be to win a race at Chelts. And there are some tough sorts in this race. I think PC, AF and Menorah will all be close enough to mount a challenge come the business end, and SS will get outstayed. I'm convinced of it Toppie, absolutely.

Obviously I could be eating those words very soon but I'm sure I won't be. I never get carried away with the hype, and he won't be carrying my £5 win

 

I'm glad somebody is. I have opposed Sprinter Sacre due to not being convinced by his suitability to the track. To a certain extent he has merely confirmed those feelings in that he looks exceptionally fast and still pulls hard. However he has also looked brilliant so it will take a proper performance to beat him, even taking into account any potential problem with the track. That might be cured anyway with another year and a breathing operation.

The only one I could foresee shaking him up is Peddlers Cross and it was nice to see McCain so bullish again in the Weekender today. He is a serious horse and I'm still happy with my bet on him. I was expecting him to win but I am now hopeful.

 

You need to lay the horse and if you are so convinced that he wont win.Surely it would be like printing money.

And seriously how can judge a horses toughness by one race?Ok he didn't look like he quite get up the hill.But even you must admit that this horse is different gravy this year.Ive tried to visualise the running of the Arkle and i just cannot logically find one horse that will even get close at the business end...hill or no hill

Ive only ever seen one novice in 20 odd years of watching racing that was as good as this fella and that was Monsignor.

 

Dancing - I don't lay, don't like it but I will be backing against him.

It's not just the hill that might catch him out, the opposition too. Peddlers Cross run at Kempton was not him, everyone knows that. Al Ferof, will have come on loads for his run in the VCC at Ascot, which in my opinion was very good. Menorah is completely unexposed, and could be anything. We don't know how good he is on his couple of runs so far!? He has as good Chelts form as any, and the more I think about it the more I like him. What I'm trying to get at is too many look at the race blinkered after the trainer and jockey big up SS and think nothing else can get close. They can!

But for me PC, big, strong, travels, quickens and stays - he'll do for me.

 

But SS is bigger,stronger,travels and quickens better than PC.I wouldn't totally say that SS wont stay because i think he will,but stamina i dont believe is his forte.

 

Sorry Nam i sounded a bit arrogant in my last post.I wont be betting as i dont bet.But good luck with whatever you back.

But for the good of the sport i hope SS wins doing handsprings as we need another superstar.