14:10 Cheltenham
Tuesday 12 March 2024
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- 5YO plus | Class 1 | 1m 7f 199y | Soft (Heavy in places) | 10 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 8.36s
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Selected odds by:
Useful hurdler who would surely have made a winning start over fences but for departing 2 out on Ascot reappearance in December. Jumped poorly at Plumpton next time, though, and surely biting off more than he can chew at this level.
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Saw off My Mate Mozzie by 1½ lengths to win a 2m Leopardstown Grade 1 novice over Christmas and at least matched that form when going down by only a neck to Il Etait Temps at the Dublin Racing Festival there last month. Player.
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Runner-up over hurdles at last 2 Festivals. Comfortably accounted for Il Etait Temps when making it 2-2 over fences at Limerick over Christmas and can't have been right when flopping at the Dublin Racing Festival (20 lengths down when unseating last). Hooded first time. Townend keeps the faith.
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Smart winning hurdler. Would have gone in at the first time of asking over fences but for falling at the last in a Fairyhouse maiden in December and made no mistake in another maiden back there since. His lack of chase experience is a slight concern but he looks highly talented.
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Couldn't live with stablemate Gaelic Warrior at Limerick (19.5f, heavy) over Christmas but firmly back on the up returned to shorter when producing a gutsy display to edge out Found A Fifty by a neck in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown (17f, soft) last month. Should go well.
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Looked set to win a Grade 2 over C&D when unseating at the last in November. Not in quite the same form when third in the Henry VIII at Sandown the following month but back on the up when accounting for Matata in a Lingfield Grade 2 6 weeks later. More will be needed to trouble the Irish.
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Much improved since switching to chasing, scoring on his debut at Aintree and back to winning ways in 4-runner Kempton Grade 2 (2m, good to soft) over Christmas. Being hampered at the first provides an excuse for his below-form fourth to Jpr One at Lingfield since. More needed.
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Headstrong sort who impressed when successful on return/chase debut at Ffos Las (2m) in October. Good runner-up efforts both starts since, latterly to Jpr One in a Grade 2 at Lingfield (2m, good to soft). Bit to find at this level.
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Won a 4-runner C&D novice in October. Much better form when 1½ lengths second of 4 to Found A Fifty in 2m Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas. Kept fresh for this since. Has cheekpieces added to his tongue tie.
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Won Triumph at 2021 Festival. Drew a blank over hurdles the following season but he's 2-3 over fences since returning from an absence, proving suited by the drop back to 2m (failed to stay 3m at Punchestown in November) when making all in Naas novice in January. There's more to come from him.
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Forecasts
Gaelic Warrior (2/1), Il Etait Temps (7/2), Quilixios (11/2), Found A Fifty (13/2), Hunters Yarn (15/2), JPR One (16/1), Matata (22/1), Master Chewy (22/1), My Mate Mozzie (25/1), Authorised Speed (100/1)
Although HUNTERS YARN lacks chase experience he was impressive when coasting home in a Fairyhouse maiden last time and the same trainer's Duc des Genievres took this in 2019 having won only a maiden before. The selection's stablemates Gaelic Warrior, who can't have been right last time, and Il Etait Temps have more established credentials having already tasted Grade 1 success over fences and head the dangers along with Found A Fifty.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £98,472.002nd: £37,100.003rd: £18,568.004th: £9,275.005th: £4,655.006th: £2,328.007th: £1,155.008th: £595.00
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