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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
4th 1 |
30th Apr 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
jumped left on occasions, raced in third, went second 6th, struggling and lost second 3 out, weakening when lost third before 2 out, tailed off |
4/1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
1st 1 |
8th Mar 2026 Soft 3m 0f 110y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Smart at around 2m in his prime and was creditable second off today's mark in valuable Musselburgh handicap (2m4f, good to soft) five weeks ago but has stamina to prove on first venture beyond about 2m4f under rules. |
9/4 |
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 |