13.45
Good To SoftFrom The Horses Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £29614
- 1m 7f 199y
- Class 1
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
15/8 (Won)
- Win: £2.38
- Place: £1.40
Form: 7110-1 C
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 (1) |
1st Sep 2026 Soft 1m 6f 0y |
9st 9lb |
Top-class chaser who achieved a career highlight in winning the 2024 King George; second in last year's edition; winner of ten races over jumps in all; ended last season with an unseat at the 15th (Chair) in the Grand National; ground may have gone against him |
5/1 |
|
3 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 11lb |
So nearly won his second King George at Kempton over Christmas but, although he's a class act, excelling over 3m on good ground at that speed track doesn't mean that this test will suit him; his moderate late headway in the extended 2m4f Grade 1 Ryanair at Cheltenham last month isn't that persuasive either. |
50/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Won the Martin Pipe over hurdles at this meeting in 2022 as well as a novice chase here that year, but Kempton is where his heart lies, having won the Grade 1 King George (3m, good) in 2024 and gone desperately close in the same race (first-time visor, retained here) on Boxing Day; however, he's been beaten a long way out at the last two Festivals, in this race and the Gold Cup, and a flat track may now be ideal; has something to prove. |
6/1 |
7/4
- Place: £1.80
Form: 1119-1 D
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 156
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 |
4th Oct 2026 Good 2m 1f 14y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
11yo who won this race in 2023 (good to soft) and was third in the last two runnings (good); ended last season in good form, coming second at Perth (2m4f, good) in April, and could have a part to play on his return. |
7/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
23rd Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 20y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
11yo who snapped a losing sequence at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) last month and it was a stronger race than this in which he was fourth of 11 at Haydock (2m4f, good) last Wednesday; every chance he'll be in the mix. |
11/2 |
|
4th 1 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 203y Class 1 |
11st 12lb |
Veteran who made his name as a two-miler and the slow pace helped when making his first foray over 3m a successful one at Carlisle (good to soft; effective on good); solid second the run before over 2m4f but a 5lb rise for last time could be troublesome. |
12/1 |
10/1
Form: 112633 D
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 145
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 1 |
6th Aug 2023 Good 2m 2f 54y |
11st 12lb |
slowly away, in rear |
13/2 |
|
1st 1 |
21st Jul 2023 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Put up a career best when runner-up in a Listed chase at Ballinrobe in May but blotted his copybook when refusing to race in a Grade 3 last time; new headgear combination now tried and while he's potentially risky, he also looks feasibly treated. |
4/1 |
|
10 |
6th Jul 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
refused to race |
6/1 |
4/1
Form: /529/1 C
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 1 |
17th Apr 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
in rear throughout, outpaced 7th |
12/1 |
|
15th 1 |
17th Apr 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
in rear throughout, outpaced 7th |
12/1 |
|
2 |
2nd Mar 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 189y Class 2 |
11st 9lb |
Lightly raced, with mixed fortunes, since winning the Triumph Hurdle in March 2019; however, he returned from latest layoff with good second to Serious Operator at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in December and may be able to build on that; one to consider. |
6/1 |
100/1
Form: 3644-6 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
5th Mar 2025 Good 1m 7f 156y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
prominent on inner, weakened gradually after 2 out |
13/2 |
|
7 |
11th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 0f 110y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th |
12/1 |
|
7 |
11th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 0f 110y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th |
12/1 |
9/1
Form: 2154-4 C
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
18th Jun 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Smart in his prime but needed considerable help from the handicapper before driven-out win at Chepstow (2m, good) in April; subsequent defeat in valuable Haydock race is not viewed harshly but he's not yet proven over this far and others in the field have more appealing profiles; cheekpices removed after one use. |
11/2 |
|
11th 5 |
10th May 2025 Good 1m 7f 144y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
Winning for the first time since the 2022 Betfair Hurdle when digging deep to edge out Helnwein at Chepstow two weeks ago (2m, good); will do well to defy a 4lb rise in this deeper race but he'll give it his best shot; cheekpieces added. |
14/1 |
|
11th 5 |
10th May 2025 Good 1m 7f 144y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
Winning for the first time since the 2022 Betfair Hurdle when digging deep to edge out Helnwein at Chepstow two weeks ago (2m, good); will do well to defy a 4lb rise in this deeper race but he'll give it his best shot; cheekpieces added. |
14/1 |
2/1
Form: 1/542- D
Last run: 219 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 149
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 2 |
21st Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 131y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
2024 Pertemps Final winner but that was off 8lb lower; contested two Grade 1s last spring, before a wind operation (his second) and heavy defeat when returned to fences three months ago (easily his worst chase performance); Freddie Keighley takes off 7lb on this return to a handicap. |
9/1 |
|
6th 8 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Creditable fifth to Gwennie May Boy on this card last year, having won the Pertemps Final (3m, soft) the time before; creditable second in Grade 2 contests the last twice but this is harder; well beaten in this race in 2023. |
40/1 |
|
6th 8 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Creditable fifth to Gwennie May Boy on this card last year, having won the Pertemps Final (3m, soft) the time before; creditable second in Grade 2 contests the last twice but this is harder; well beaten in this race in 2023. |
40/1 |
Non-runners
Monmiral
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £5.80 |
| Straight Forecast | £5.32 |
| Trifecta | £20.90 |