2014 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase

The only way Champagne Fever will end up in the Arkle now is should anything happen Felix Yonger before Cheltenham. Champagne Fever's pedigree is laden with stamina and when he steps up in trip you'll see an even better horse.

He obviously won the Cheltenham bumper and Supreme, both over 2 miles, but he got two terrific rides in both. People remember Ruby's ride last year beating My Tent or Yours but perhaps forget how good a ride Patrick give him to win the bumper in 2012.

Summary: JLT Novices Chase

 

Nice one Oddy

 

Felix Yonger has opened 5/2 in the Irish Arkle on Sunday. That's my biggest bet of the season so far. I love the horse.

 

If he runs, I'm pretty excited about MOZOLTOV.

Gordon Elliot was almost waxing lyrical about him last year saying he felt he was the best 25/1 bet in last years Supreme (obviously he never ran in the end) but he looks a promising chaser. Think he possibly beat Don Cossack but I'd have to confirm.

Felix Yonger is nice though, especially if the ground is not deep.

 

DODGING BULLETS for this, re-watched his chase races last night, and it just keeps reinforcing to me how much he has improved for a fence. Would only be wary of his previous festival run in the Supreme when he was poor last year

 

Trifolium for me. Can understand doubts over him as the Irish Arkle fell apart slightly with Felix Yonger hating the ground and Defy Logic bleeding but I just love his jumping. Such scope. Ran well in the Supremes too, so not buying into the he needs a bog theory.

 

Trifolium has improved loads no matter how you view the race last week. He's a great price IMHO on some of the wettest ground of the week.

 

Seems Willie has changed his mind again that Champagne Fever should be Arkle bound, so I hope you didn't take my advice and rip up your dockets! Slightly disconcerting that he's not fully happy with him at this stage though and has decided to skip his potential prep race today at Navan. Staggeringly a couple of bookies clipped him even after Willie stating he's 'not 100% happy with him'! Those bookie chaps, eh! Hardly a positive that he's heading straight to Prestbury Park after his Christmas mishap. A wee canter round at long-odds on would have been a confidence booster if nothing else. I stuck him in a silly Rich Ricci 4-timer at 809-1 so would have liked to see him run before the Festival but not to be!

 

Champagne Fever currently Arkle bound as first choice confirmed at the media day today but was stressed all horse could change target except for Vautour, HF and Quevega

 

If that Western Warhorse runs anywhere at Cheltenham, as long as he doesn't play up at the start he will be something worth watching in a 2m chase- really does attack his fences.

 

The more I watch his past performances and the more the ground gets better the more I like Rock On Ruby!

 

Champagne Fever has won at the last two Festivals, but he isn't going to sp-arkle this year. He can't jump and I wouldn't back him at any price.

Dodging Bullets is a very genuine horse, but he barely gets two miles and I don't think he'll get up the hill.

Rock On Ruby is the class horse in the race, but a 9yo has never won the Arkle.

Trifolium is a decent ew bet and he'll definitely be running on at the end of the race, but I don't think he's good enough to win an Arkle.

Valdez has some decent form and he's a good jumper. I think he could spring a surprise.

 

Dodging Bullets has already come up the hill this season to win, and his form can't really be knocked. He'll need to step up again no doubt, but I'm gonna keep banging the drum for him until he makes me look ****ing stupid a week on Tuesday!

 

No worries Reebs, looks like I'm going to have to ring those men in white coats again so you're safely locked away for Cheltenham week!

You there again this year?