February 01 / 14.55 Leopardstown

14.55

Yielding

Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £73140.5
  • 2m 1f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTE1
View Course
Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1/31-1 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Triumph Hurdle winner survived a tendency to jump left when beating talented but frustrating stablemate Tullyhill in a Fairyhouse beginners in December; that will have sharpened him and clearly has serious claims if he jumps a bit straighter, and going left-handed will help in that regard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

18:05 Punchestown

Majborough

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

4-8 over fences; has a massive engine and has won three Grade 1s over fences, including when giving Marine Nationale a 19l beating in first-time cheekpieces at the DRF; however, his jumping is often erratic and the cheekpieces weren't as effective when he again jumped poorly when soundly beaten in the Champion Chase; obvious chance if he jumps well but hard to know what to expect; a risky proposition.

9/4

7th

8

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Majborough

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Talented youngster who triumphed in the Triumph at this meeting in 2024 and shaped like the best horse when close third in last year's Arkle, which he would likely have won but for late mistakes that included a howler two out; again lacked fluency when beaten twice in December but took very well to first-time cheekpieces and jumped better on his way to a highly impressive performance in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft) since, beating 2025 Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale by 19l; good chance of following up in the retained headgear, provided the form is confirmed and a reversion to errors is avoided.

5/6

1st

3

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

14:10 Leopardstown

Majborough

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning Grade 1s over C&D and at Punchestown; however, he had jumping frailties too and they resurfaced on return at Cork behind Found A Fifty; a decent effort back over C&D last time but has ground to make up on Solness and Marine National on that form; cheekpieces added.

15/8

10/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 41-212 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Progressive novice; comfortably landed a Grade 2 at Punchestown in November and survived a mixed round of jumping when runner-up in a Grade 1 at Sandown in December; more needed here but appears to be going the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

3

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Touch Me Not

10st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Talented chaser rated 152 in that sphere and a Grade 2 novice chase winner at this venue; soundly beaten in the Grand Annual on latest and now tries to exploit a 17lb lower hurdles mark on first start over timber since April 2024; can't discount.

12/1

14th

1

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Touch Me Not

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Tailed off in last season's Arkle on sole visit here and has a lofty mark to defy; however, he won a Grade 2 novice chase last term and ran really well in second in a 2m Grade 3 at Naas recently when conceding 9lb to all of his rivals; James Smith removes 5lb; not ruled out each-way.

25/1

2nd

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:30 Naas

Touch Me Not

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Grade 2 winner at Punchestown (2m, soft) last season; form dipped last spring after two respectable runs in Grade 1 company; below best on seasonal return in Fortria (2m, soft to heavy) but much better on handicap debut at Fairyhouse next time when runner-up (2m1f, yielding to soft); ran a solid race when third in a similar contest to this at Fairyhouse last time; race conditions are against him here but a lot of the others have question marks.

9/2

Form: 22-132 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
High class novice hurdler and on the way to being at least as effective a chaser; impressed with his jumping when winning his beginners at Down Royal, perhaps slightly disappointed when a close third in the Drinmore, but probably stepped up on that when runner-up to Ile Atlantique at Naas over a trip short of his best; probably little reason to believe that he can turn those tables here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Firefox

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gordon Elliott

Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

50/1

6th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today.

33/1

4th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable.

66/1

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Massive horse and there appeared to be no fluke about his 150-1 success in a C&D beginners chase at Christmas; huge step up again but has tremendous scope and it should not be a surprise if he outran his likely odds.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

17:25 Punchestown

Jeannot Lapin

11st 12lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Gearoid O’Loughlin

Physically imposing sort; placed twice in point-to-points; caused major upset with 150-1 Leopardstown beginners' win (2m1f, good to yielding) on rules debut in December; set a tough task in the Irish Arkle at the DRF but ran respectable in the circumstances; no match for Champ Kiely when runner-up in Navan Grade 3 over 2m in March; unlikely winner.

18/1

6th

2

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

17:25 Punchestown

Jeannot Lapin

11st 12lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Gearoid O’Loughlin

Physically imposing sort; placed twice in point-to-points; caused major upset with 150-1 Leopardstown beginners' win (2m1f, good to yielding) on rules debut in December; set a tough task in the Irish Arkle at the DRF but ran respectable in the circumstances; no match for Champ Kiely when runner-up in Navan Grade 3 over 2m in March; unlikely winner.

18/1

OUR TIP

Form: 357-11 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Form tailed off in novice hurdles last season but fences have tempered his propensity to race too keenly; stepped up on a taking victory in a Navan beginners chase to readily account for Firefox in a Grade 2 at Naas last month; could be the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Ile Atlantique

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

His form/jumping have been in and out since his Grade 2 novice chase win at Naas last January, soundly beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown latest; however, two starts ago he followed Heart Wood home in a 2m7f Grade 3 at Tramore; could have a big say for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

15/2

8th

2

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Ile Atlantique

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Hurdle winner and won twice over fences last season, including a Grade 2 at Naas; however, his form then fell away and twice failed to complete; signs of a resurgence when second to Heart Wood at Tramore last time and can go well if building on that.

9/1

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Ile Atlantique

11st 10lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, fell 10th

16/1

Form: -11711 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Progressive novice chaser, winning novice handicap chases at Wetherby and Ascot at the end of last year; massive step up in class here and looks up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Here Comes Georgie

12st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

Close second at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in November and bounced back from Ascot blip when third at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) recently, albeit soundly beaten by the first two; the step back up in trip might help and he's a possible player if conditions suit; unproven on soft ground.

9/2

3rd

2

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Here Comes Georgie

11st 13lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

Unproven on soft ground and tailed off at Ascot last time, although that was in a hot Class 2; went close in Class 3 at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) two starts ago and not ruled out now back down in grade.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €7.50
Straight Forecast €9.59
Trifecta €18.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ile Atlantique

TOPSPEED:

Touch Me Not

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Ile Atlantique

POSTDATA:

Ile Atlantique

The Irish Sun:

Ile Atlantique