March 10 / 14.00 Cheltenham

14.00

Good To Soft

Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £112540
  • 1m 7f 199y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 1-3212 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
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.
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

14:00 Cheltenham

Kargese

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

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

14:55 Leopardstown

Kargese

11st 5lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

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

OUR TIP

6/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 111-41 C

Last run: 113 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Travelled strongly when landing the odds in last year's Supreme (good to soft) before running no sort of race at Punchestown; dispatched inferior opposition with minimum of fuss on debut over fences at Navan (2m1f, soft/heavy) in November; hasn't been seen since (had a loose chip removed from a knee in December) and lacks the chasing experience of his rivals, but he certainly possesses the X factor and he's the one to beat with a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

17:25 Punchestown

Kopek Des Bordes

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Was the outstanding novice hurdler of last season with two Grade 1 wins including the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham; had an excuse when well below that form at this meeting last year; made an impressive chasing debut at Navan; then had a chip taken out of a knee, so lacked experience but still ran a cracker in the Arkle; with more to come he will be difficult to beat today.

1/2

2nd

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Kopek Des Bordes

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Travelled strongly when landing the odds in last year's Supreme (good to soft) before running no sort of race at Punchestown; dispatched inferior opposition with minimum of fuss on debut over fences at Navan (2m1f, soft/heavy) in November; hasn't been seen since (had a loose chip removed from a knee in December) and lacks the chasing experience of his rivals, but he certainly possesses the X factor and he's the one to beat with a clear round.

6/4

4th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 149y

16:15 Punchestown

Kopek Des Bordes

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Unbeaten in a bumper and three hurdle races; didn't impress with his jumping on hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas but blew away his rivals in a Grade 1 at the track next time; again made some mistakes when winning the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham but was well on top at the finish; the hood worn then is retained and is difficult to oppose today.

4/6

Form: 2-1111 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Leading juvenile hurdler last season, following narrow defeat in the Triumph with clearcut success at Punchestown, and he is 3-3 over fences; easily landed the odds in Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) in December and he readily beat five older rivals in Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, heavy) last month; stellar stablemates Sprinter Sacre and Altior followed the Game Spirit path to Arkle success, and he's a very strong candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Lulamba

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on any ground; ran creditably on the figures but was only third when favourite for the Arkle, in which a mistake two out cost him some ground when challenging; has otherwise been a rising force at about 2m and his record away from the Cheltenham Festival is 6-6, comfortably beating his elders in the Game Spirit for the most recent success; gives the firm impression he's ready for a crack at this new trip; sets the standard and retains the potential for rating higher still.

8/13

3rd

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Lulamba

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Leading juvenile hurdler last season, following narrow defeat in the Triumph with clearcut success at Punchestown, and he is 3-3 over fences; easily landed the odds in Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) in December and he readily beat five older rivals in Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (2m, heavy) last month; stellar stablemates Sprinter Sacre and Altior followed the Game Spirit path to Arkle success, and he's a very strong candidate.

13/8

1st

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Lulamba

11st 3lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Seems versatile as regards ground; leading juvenile hurdler prior to a smooth transition to fences, most recently impressive in Grade 1 novice at Sandown (1m7f) when taking overall strike-rate to 5-6; exciting youngster who is favourite for the Arkle and has any amount of further progress in him; trainer landed this prize with similarly esteemed novice chasers in 2012 and 2017; strongly respected.

8/11

Form: -21411 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.

9/1

4th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.

20/1

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Jax Junior

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from the nose at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) three weeks ago in clearcut style; just as effective at 2m4f and sets the standard for the others to aim at.

4/6

Form: 2P-111 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on two of his last three goes over hurdles but the transition to chasing has been smooth and he's 3-3; showed further improvement when easily beating two rivals (Mambonumberfive well held in third) in Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' at Warwick (2m, heavy; handles good) last month; faces his sternest assignment and will need another personal best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Steel Ally

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Pulled up on two of his last three goes over hurdles but the transition to chasing has been smooth and he's 3-3; showed further improvement when easily beating two rivals (Mambonumberfive well held in third) in Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' at Warwick (2m, heavy; handles good) last month; faces his sternest assignment and will need another personal best.

12/1

1st

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 1

13:50 Warwick

Steel Ally

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Very useful hurdler with 2-2 strike-rate over fences this season, the latter win gained by 9l in Grade 2 novice at Ascot (2m3f, soft) in December; should be fine back at 2m and ought to be a very tough nut to crack.

4/5

3

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Steel Ally

11st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in touch with leaders

10/1

Form: 97-412 D

Last run: 73 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Had a simple task when beating two stablemates at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in December; finished behind Jax Junior and Mambonumberfive in his runs on either side of that win; bottom of the list on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Hansard

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Had a simple task when beating two stablemates at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in December; finished behind Jax Junior and Mambonumberfive in his runs on either side of that win; bottom of the list on ratings.

100/1

7th

7

20th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Hansard

11st 2lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Only 1lb above his last winning mark but hasn't truly threatened this season and no better for cheekpieces the last twice, in the County Hurdle and then over 2m4f at Aintree; he wouldn't be the obvious answer here.

8/1

Non-runners

Mambonumberfive

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.60
Straight Forecast £17.93
Trifecta £21.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lulamba

SPOTLIGHT:

Kopek Des Bordes

TOPSPEED:

Steel Ally

POSTDATA:

Lulamba

LAMBOURN:

Lulamba

Telegraph:

Lulamba

Daily Mail:

Lulamba

D Express:

Lulamba

Daily Mirror:

Lulamba

The Sun:

Lulamba

Daily Record:

Lulamba

The Times:

Kopek Des Bordes

The Star:

Kopek Des Bordes

The Guardian:

Steel Ally