14.10
SoftSporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £98472.5
- 1m 7f 199y
- Class 1
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
6/4 (Won)
- Win: £2.10
- Place: £1.20
Form: 12-111 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 162
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form. |
5/1 |
|
1st 2 |
2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 72y |
11st 7lb |
Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance. |
10/11 |
|
5th 3 |
1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower. |
10/1 |
13/8
- Place: £1.10
Form: 21-111 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion. |
13/2 |
|
1st 5 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 13y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained. |
8/15 |
8/1
- Place: £1.60
Form: -4321U C
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 153
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
4th Aug 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 2f 54y |
11st 12lb |
Smart chaser who put in two promising efforts when runner-up in the Red Rum at Aintree and a competitive handicap at Punchestown behind Plate winner Pinkerton; well held behind that rival four days ago but has leading claims back down to a more suitable trip. |
100/30 |
|
17th 3 |
31st Jul 2024 Good 2m 6f 111y |
11st 8lb |
Won a 2m1f Grade 1 at Leopardstown the season before last; returned to form when second in the Red Rum at Aintree; beaten a short head in a valuable 2m Punchestown festival handicap; finished second in a 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree as a novice, but not certain to stay effectively enough to win a race of this high standard. |
14/1 |
66/1
Form: 47-114 CD
Last run: 109 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 141
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
26th Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 210y Class 2 |
10st 7lb |
Capitalised on a reduced mark in three-runner handicap at Ludlow (3m, good) in April and could improve for this month's 25l second of five on reappearance at Ludlow (3m, good to firm), when making mistakes; also effective on soft ground; possible player if jumping better this time. |
7/1 |
|
1 |
8th Oct 2025 Good To Firm 2m 7f 171y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
10yo who turned things around when narrowly beating an odds-on rival in a C&D handicap (good; 11-2) in April; been absent since then but he's only 1lb higher than for that win and has claims if he can pick up where he left off. |
9/2 |
|
1st 5 |
2nd Apr 2025 Good 2m 7f 171y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
Commendable third off 11lb higher at last year's Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft; good ground also suits) but badly out of form this season (four runs) and is the one in this line-up with by far the most to prove. |
7/1 |
50/1
Form: 2-2142 D
Last run: 10 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
2nd Mar 2025 Yielding 2m 5f 107y |
10st 11lb |
Bumper, hurdles and chase winner (2m5f); soundly beaten on both runs this term after long absence in 2m1f handicaps; return to longer trip may suit but hard to be confident in. |
20/1 |
|
11th 3 |
1st Feb 2025 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 3lb |
midfield, lost position and towards rear after 4 out, detached from 2 out |
25/1 |
|
11th 3 |
1st Feb 2025 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 3lb |
midfield |
25/1 |
100/1
Form: 212721 D
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 0lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 5 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
11st 0lb |
Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss. |
10/1 |
|
6th 5 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
11st 0lb |
Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss. |
10/1 |
|
5 |
15th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 0f 0y |
10st 8lb |
Admirable front-runner but recent form far from encouraging, 3m beyond her last time; return to 2m to suit but hard to see her lasting it out. |
25/1 |
100/1
Form: 4323-1 D
Last run: 139 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 16y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Record of 2-2 over C&D (good) includes a neck success off 1lb higher last April; failed to get home over 2m3f on soft ground here last month on return from a break; respected back down in trip. |
7/2 |
|
3rd 3 |
15th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 3f 98y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
2-2 over fences here, albeit at 2m; has been off another four months since his Cheltenham reappearance in November, while stamina is another question mark. |
9/1 |
6/1
Form: 1F-514 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 151
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas. |
14/1 |
|
5th 4 |
30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas. |
14/1 |
|
0 2 |
27th Dec 2023 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
soon raced in fourth behind clear leader, went third after 4 out, brief headway 2 out, soon pushed along and weakened, fell last |
10/1 |
25/1
Form: 33-514 D
Last run: 78 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 7 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 160y |
12st 0lb |
midfield, pushed along after 5th, some headway and went remote third before 2 out, kept on, no match for first two |
8/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £3.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £3.67 |
| Tricast | £12.87 |
| Trifecta | £12.80 |
Selections
Daily Mirror:
El FabioloThe Sun:
El Fabiolo