14.55
Yielding To SoftGoffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £76956.52
- 2m 1f 0y
- 3 runners
ch.jpg)
Runners: 3 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: P-0121 D
Last run: 84 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 145
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 44y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Irish point winner; has won two of his four chase starts (at 2m/2m1f on good to yielding and heavy) and had no realistic chance in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month, but he could have made a better impression with some of his jumping; this is a new test for him under rules but he should have the scope to do better back in a handicap; yard runs three. |
8/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Maiden hurdle winner last season but then lost his form; has done well in three starts over fences; won a Killarney beginners' last August, 8l second in a Tipperary Grade 3 in October; handled heavy ground when beating subsequent winner Drumgill in a handicap at Gowran in November; useful sort but hardly in the same league as his two rivals. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 32-111 CD
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Champion Bumper second and Supreme third at last two Cheltenham Festivals; 4-4 over fences, winning three Grade 1s, but raced lazily in Irish Arkle (2m1f, soft) last time which has brought about this hike in trip; possibly the most talented horse in the race, but the trip is a real unknown and the fitting of a hood suggests even his connections have their doubts. |
9/4 |
|
1st 2 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Course Grade 1 novice hurdle winner last season and better in defeat when placed at Cheltenham and Aintree; bright start over fences at Down Royal and beat three-time chase winner Gold Dancer in the 2m4f Drinmore at Fairyhouse; backed that up with a game C&D display win at Christmas; ideally needs further but also capable of high-class form at this trip; looks the part despite slight doubt about how he will handle very testing ground. |
8/15 |
Abandoned
Form: 213-21 CD
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 7 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Runner-up in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle and won last year's County; has quickly reached a similar level over fences, winning a beginners' event at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) just after Christmas and going down to the high-class Romeo Coolio in Grade 1 over the same C&D (soft) only after a titanic tussle and a final-fence blunder; should be in the thick of things again if fully recovered from those exertions. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Dual Grade 1 winner as a juvenile hurdler; won last year's County Hurdle; jumping technique left plenty to be desired on her chase debut at Cork (soft), beaten 16l by Romeo Coolio's stablemate Kala Conti; jumped better when winning unextended from the front in a C&D event (yielding) marred by a fatal injury to the pursuing James's Gate. |
7/4 |
Verdict
Only two rivals for ROMEO COOLIO, already a dual Grade 1 winner over fences. He got away with a trip shorter than ideal here in last month’s Racing Post Novice Chase and can do so again. Despite a slight concern about the ground (he has never raced on heavy), he should have too much firepower for Kargese who was not seriously tested when opening her chase account at Christmas, having proved no match for an Elliott-trained mare on her first attempt. [Alan Sweetman]
Selections
The Irish Sun:
Romeo Coolio