The Arkle Challenge Trophy - Tuesday 13th March

I reckon you will get 5/4 in the morning Oddy, I remember last year at Cheltenham I got 5/4 about Big Bucks and Evens Quevega, so the bookies aren't frightened to take the good things on. The best thing to do is get on oddschecker first thing, you may even get 11/8.

I do agree with you that he will be hammered on course though, I know Henderson thinks the world of this horse, and they are a big gambling stable, so I can see him going off odds on

 

Oddy - if you have Club tickets go to the run of bookies across the rails where the horse shute is about 150 yards from the win line - I always find Neville Porter there and get my bets on for the day, ask him for a price and he'll give you one, he let me have 11/10 Quevega and same price Big Bucks, if they get all your business they'll give you enhanced prices...

 

Well I also backed Bensalem with him so I wasn't too popular with him !
10.45 is a bit early as well - very few bookies are there, set up and connected at that time, you might have to wait until around 11.30 or shortly after.
To be fair most bookies will play with you, if you fancy a certain horse who is 11/4 there's no harm in asking for 3/1, at worst they will say no, I got caught up with Nev 3 or 4 years ago when by default I got so lazy I couldn't be arsed to walk to the ring to get a better price so I just said to him that I expect some value and he gave me a point extra on a couple, been going there ever since.
Just avoid the bookies above the parade ring outside the bar (can't rememebr it's name), robbing fookers that lot....

 

Calm down Shergar! I agree with you 100% about SS - your language is OTT, not your assessment of the horse.

I hope Peddlers Cross does take him on as there are still some who inexplicably think he is in the same class so it should help with the price. I think the first day is one for doubles and trebles although sod's law says there is bound to be at least one shock to scupper those.

 

Fulkes, are you joking? Who's your 2 milers just as good as Flyingbolt? There's only one chaser I'd back to beat him-and he came from the same stable!

 

I know they never met, and there is no definative answer as to who was better, but if you go on all known form lines then Flyingbolt was superior to Arkle. He beat the same horse's by further conceeding more weight.

I find it very sad that when discussions of the best horse ever come up, Flyingbolt never gets a mention, but in fact he could well have been the most talented National Hunt horse of all time. Even Pat Taffe the regular rider of both horse's, has gone on record as saying Flyingbolt was a better horse than Arkle. It was also the common opinion among the work riders in Draper's yard. Everyone closely connected to both horse's knew Flyingbolt was going to knock Arkle off his perch. It just shows how much injury has changed the landscape of National Hunt history, because had Flyingbolt stayed fit and healthy, then Arkle would not be recognised as the best ever

 

I don't know where Pat Taaffe said that Flyingbolt was better, because I know for a fact he chose Arkle- saying that ..." Arkle would always have that bit extra speed."
Yes, Shergs, it's ultimately a matter of personal opinion. I saw both horses and there is no way I underestimate Flyingbolt- there is no two miler since him who would hold a candle to him, so good was he. In fact I'd probably rate their stablemate, Fortria, as the third best I ever saw, He was an awesome two miler!
Many persons don't appreciate the speed that Arkle possessed and feel he would have been found wanting against the very best at two miles. This is absolute nonsense. Tom Dreaper aimed his horses at the Gold Cup/staying chases, given that they had the stamina. Arkle was always destined to go down that route from the beginning, and that's why Flyingbolt was stepped up in distance, even though he could have stayed at two miles and cleared the deck.
Shergs, I just know that no steeplechaser would have beaten Arkle at any distance, and I live with that inside of me. We beg to differ. That's what life's all about!

 

It's impossible to compare horses from different generations Tam but I refuse to believe that Flyingbolt was as superior as his rating suggests. Even Arkle's now looks too high although I would not dispute that he is the best ever 3m plus chaser. There have been some terrific two-milers since Flyingbolt and I won't have it that he was vastly superior to them.

 

What does everyone think about Donald McCains comments about the Jewson? I know Sprinter Sacre has been really impressive to date but anything can happen in an Arkle, especially at the pace they will be going. If he is settled at the rear of the field then anything can fetch him down. I don't think he should be scared of one horse and I don't want the quality of this race to be diluted, the best should face the best at Cheltenham.

I think the course will play to his strengths and a flat out gallop will too and don't think it will be the forgone conclusion everybody seems to think it is. I know there were issues with the horse found after his lacklustre run at Kempton. I think I am right in saying that it was Peddlers Cross' first run right handed under rules? Could it just be he isn't seen at his best running that way and the sharp track didn't help either? Hopefully he will remain in the Arkle and we can see a cracking race between some brilliant novice chasers.

 

I think the article is misleading which has created this story. He's said all along that the Arkle is the aim, with the other races just precautionary in case something happened. The story actually says as much but seems to attach far greater weight to the idea of running in the Jewson than had previously been the case.

The worrying thing is that the suggestion is that he might go to the Jewson if McCain is not entirely happy with him. If that is the case surely he shouldn't be running at all. Therefore, he should either run in the Arkle if he's in top form, and if he isn't he shouldn't be there regardless of the race.

It will be a huge shame if he doesn't take his chance, and I will be very surprised if he doesn't.

 

It is a firm possibility that his words have been manipulated to create some rumours and intruige. For me, he doesn't seem the sort of bloke who would worry about putting his horses against the best. I aren't sure if I read somewhere about him being sore on his back? Just generally not a well horse.....

Do you think it could be to do with going right handed? I know nothing was mentioned but I think that was the first time under rules?

 

It seems very unlikely it would be right handed, just looking for another reason, especially as you mention McCain hasn't been too vocal about what he found wrong. I am sure I read an article about Peddlers Cross last week where the trainer was being quite bullish about his chances. I honestly think he will give Sprinter Sacre a very tough race. In a little under 2 weeks, I could be made to look very foolish, however the Arkle has been a minefield for favourite and there are always plenty of surprises at the festival.

 

I haven't covered Al Ferof yet, however when the final field is declared I will definitely take advantage of the Paddy Power offer and guarantee myself a profit or money back. I have Cue Card in a stupid accumalator with Binocular, Royal Guardsmen, Sea of Thunder, Monksland and Champion Court. Highly unlikely but worth a quid of anyones money. Binocular and Cue Card for me are the least likely, so if we get off to a good start who knows.