14.25
SoftGoffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £76956.52
- 2m 1f 0y
- 6 runners
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Runners: 6 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
14/1 (Won)
- Win: £6.70
- Place: £1.90
Form: 152-12 C
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Ground versatile; not the biggest in stature but a hugely talented performer who has won eight of his 11 chase starts, including six Grade 1s; bolted up in the Champion Chase on latest, immediately bouncing back from a rare blip at Sandown; won a Grade 1 novice over C&D at this meeting last year and he's preferred by Townend; leading chance. |
7/4 |
|
1st 4 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; small in stature but big in talent and his record of 7-10 over fences features five Grade 1 wins, the most recent impressively in this season's Tingle Creek at Sandown; not bombproof in this scenario as he's 0-3 at the Cheltenham Festival (finishing positions 553) and was let down by his jumping in the 2024 Arkle, admittedly posting a good placed effort in the circumstances; possible denting of confidence is another concern as he was winded and took a while to get up from a late fall in the Clarence House most recently (under pressure and not responding when the tumble occurred); removal of usual hood adds to the uncertainty; otherwise a huge player provided he's in top form. |
4/1 |
|
2 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 172y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Hugely likeable chaser who made it 7-9 over fences when slamming Jonbon by 9l in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft; fine on softer) six weeks ago; that represented another personal best and he's the clear pick on the ratings; has excellent credentials. |
8/15 |
6/1
- Place: £3.40
Form: 84-121 CD
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat. |
7/4 |
|
3 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February. |
33/1 |
|
4th 2 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 90y |
11st 8lb |
Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April. |
13/8 |
9/2
Form: 521-14 C BF
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
14th Mar 2024 Soft 2m 3f 168y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Has raced only at 2m-2m1f; versatile ground-wise; an exciting horse early in career and has performed well in both Cheltenham Festival attempts, winning the Champion Bumper in 2022 then runner-up in the Supreme last year; beaten twice since scoring on debut over fences but wasn't disgraced in the Irish Arkle latest; may take his form to the next level over this new trip, being out of Quevega who won the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle at this meeting six times; very interesting with that in mind. |
15/8 |
|
3rd 1 |
3rd Feb 2024 Soft 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
soon raced in second, joined leader after 3 out, challenging when carried left before last, not fluent and pecked on landing last, soon lost second and ridden, no match for first two |
9/2 |
|
4th 1 |
26th Dec 2023 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top bumper horse two seasons ago, winning all four starts, including Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown; won three of his five starts over hurdles last season, and second in the Supreme Novices'; had an excuse at this venue in February; gradually warmed to his task on his chasing debut at Navan; room for improvement in his jumping; hard to oppose. |
2/7 |
25/1
Form: -21143 C
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 12lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 6 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out. |
10/1 |
|
6th 6 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out. |
10/1 |
|
1st 1 |
20th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 20y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Top-class hurdler who has shown a good level of form over fences, banging his head against a wall in Grade 1s in his last four appearances; finished fourth in last season's County Hurdle in his last handicap assignment and that was off an 8lb higher mark; may run well, though stamina could be an issue on this belated first run beyond 2m4f. |
10/1 |
2/5
Form: 1111-1 CD
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
The 2025 Champion Chaser arrives here a fresher horse than most after missing Cheltenham with a sore neck; returned to action at Leopardstown in December with a pleasing effort behind Solness after making an early mistake; no match for Majborough at the DRF on testing ground but he's a much better horse on a sounder surface; won this in fine style last year and could repeat the dose. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top-class novice hurdler had an interrupted novice chase season but came good last term, finishing runner-up to Solness in this race before winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; he then followed up at Punchestown in style; did well to recover from an error on comeback over C&D last time, just losing out to Solness again; this testing ground is a question, but is the one to beat if handling it. |
15/8 |
|
1st 4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
towards rear but in touch with leaders, smooth headway 3 out, soon niggled along, challenging after 2 out, led going best approaching last, shaken up and went clear run-in, comfortably |
5/4 |
150/1
Form: 12F23P D BF
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 100y |
11st 8lb |
Very smart chaser when at his best but he was well beaten in this 12 months ago and last season's placed efforts were remote ones behind class acts; current wellbeing is a bit of an issue. |
12/1 |
|
5 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Decent sort has two wins apiece over hurdles and fences, including a Grade 2 at Navan last season, his best performance; however, he is rated a long way below all of these rivals and is an unlikely winner. |
66/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €60.80 |
| Straight Forecast | €52.65 |
| Trifecta | €122.50 |
Selections
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