The Arkle Challenge Trophy (or simply "The Arkle" as it is more commonly known) is the 2 mile championship race for novice chasers and is run on the Tuesday of the festival over 2 miles on the old course, with 13 fences to be jumped. The race is named in memory of the great Arkle, whose statue can be seen at the course:
As the race is for novices, there have been no multiple winners, but some of the greatest chasers in the history of the sport have lifted this coveted prize - Sprinter Sacre, Sizing Europe, Moscow Flyer, Pendil, Flyingbolt and Fortria to name but a few. The most successful jockey in the race is Barry Geraghty with 4 wins, and the most successful trainer title is shared by Tom Dreaper and Nicky Henderson with 5 wins apiece. Whilst the race demands speed and accurate jumping from young novices, it has also thrown up some notable stayers such as Tidal Bay, My Way de Solzen and Alverton.
With the introduction of the JLT Novices Chase over 2m5f, ante post punters are often left wondering whether their fancy will head to the Arkle or the longer race, so the market can be quite fluid until final targets are clarified. The latest odds from oddschecker can be found here and some of the market leaders at this stage are as follows:
Un De Sceaux (5/2) - Willie Mullins did not send Edward O'Connell's charge to Cheltenham as a hurdler, preferring instead to mop up Grade 3 ad Grade 2 hurdle races at Auteuil. Unexpectedly fell on his chase debut at Navan (even the cameraman missed it) but made no mistake last time at Fairyhouse and looks the type of speedy horse to stamp his mark on the race.
Vautour (8/1) - last season's supreme novice hurdler was an uncontested market leader after a breathtaking chase debut at Navan when slamming Clarcam on the bridle conceding 12lbs. That all went wrong at Leopardstown on Boxing Day where, in atrocious conditions, he never travelled and nearly fell. Connections are keen to put a line through that run. It will need an impressive display in the Irish Arkle for him to head to Cheltenham with confidence.
Clarcam (12/1) - picked up the pieces after Vautour's no-show on Boxing Day but that should not detract from an excellent performance from the Gigginstown runner who was always travelling sweetly at the head of affairs.
Gilgamboa (12/1) - has gone somewhat under the radar due to the wealth of talent in the Irish novice chase ranks this season, but has been really impressive in winning twice over fences and looks to have a very big future.
It is tempting to say the Irish have this race sewn up, with the most impressive British novice chaser, P'tit Zig, reportedly heading for the JLT. The most prominent British horses in the market (Josses Hill, Vibrato Valtat, Three Kingdoms and Sergeant Reckless) all look short of top class at the moment and would need to progress. There are also horses such as Vaniteux and Garde la Victoire listed in the betting, who have yet to jump a fence in public, but at this stage the Irish big guns appear to hold all the aces.
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As the race is for novices, there have been no multiple winners, but some of the greatest chasers in the history of the sport have lifted this coveted prize - Sprinter Sacre, Sizing Europe, Moscow Flyer, Pendil, Flyingbolt and Fortria to name but a few. The most successful jockey in the race is Barry Geraghty with 4 wins, and the most successful trainer title is shared by Tom Dreaper and Nicky Henderson with 5 wins apiece. Whilst the race demands speed and accurate jumping from young novices, it has also thrown up some notable stayers such as Tidal Bay, My Way de Solzen and Alverton.
With the introduction of the JLT Novices Chase over 2m5f, ante post punters are often left wondering whether their fancy will head to the Arkle or the longer race, so the market can be quite fluid until final targets are clarified. The latest odds from oddschecker can be found here and some of the market leaders at this stage are as follows:
Un De Sceaux (5/2) - Willie Mullins did not send Edward O'Connell's charge to Cheltenham as a hurdler, preferring instead to mop up Grade 3 ad Grade 2 hurdle races at Auteuil. Unexpectedly fell on his chase debut at Navan (even the cameraman missed it) but made no mistake last time at Fairyhouse and looks the type of speedy horse to stamp his mark on the race.
Vautour (8/1) - last season's supreme novice hurdler was an uncontested market leader after a breathtaking chase debut at Navan when slamming Clarcam on the bridle conceding 12lbs. That all went wrong at Leopardstown on Boxing Day where, in atrocious conditions, he never travelled and nearly fell. Connections are keen to put a line through that run. It will need an impressive display in the Irish Arkle for him to head to Cheltenham with confidence.
Clarcam (12/1) - picked up the pieces after Vautour's no-show on Boxing Day but that should not detract from an excellent performance from the Gigginstown runner who was always travelling sweetly at the head of affairs.
Gilgamboa (12/1) - has gone somewhat under the radar due to the wealth of talent in the Irish novice chase ranks this season, but has been really impressive in winning twice over fences and looks to have a very big future.
It is tempting to say the Irish have this race sewn up, with the most impressive British novice chaser, P'tit Zig, reportedly heading for the JLT. The most prominent British horses in the market (Josses Hill, Vibrato Valtat, Three Kingdoms and Sergeant Reckless) all look short of top class at the moment and would need to progress. There are also horses such as Vaniteux and Garde la Victoire listed in the betting, who have yet to jump a fence in public, but at this stage the Irish big guns appear to hold all the aces.
