The Arkle Chase, a highlight in the horse racing world and the pinnacle of novice chases over the shortest distance, holds a significant spot in the racing calendar.
| Arkle Chase Runners | Arkle Odds |
|---|---|
| Marine Nationale | 5/2 |
| Il Etait Temps | 9/2 |
| Found A Fifty | 6/1 |
| Hunters Yarn | 8/1 |
| Facile Vega | 8/1 |
| Quilixios | 10/1 |
| Jpr One | 10/1 |
| Gaelic Warrior | 12/1 |
| Inthepocket | 12/1 |
Scheduled as the second event of the Cheltenham Festival, this race is known for its intensity and pace, featuring 13 fences on the Old Course that challenge participants to demonstrate both speed and skill.
In the previous season’s Arkle Chase, named in honor of the legendary three-time Gold Cup champion, El Fabiolo emerged victorious over Jonbon. This year, the trophy is expected to stay in Ireland, as the local competitors appear to lack standout performers in this category.
The upcoming Arkle Chase is slated for Tuesday, March 12 at Cheltenham, with the race set to begin at approximately 14:10.
Arkle Chase Trends
The Arkle Chase, a tribute to the renowned three-time Gold Cup champion, serves as a pivotal event for novice chasers preparing for a potential challenge in the Champion Chase in the following season.
This prestigious race has predominantly been dominated by Irish contenders, with six out of the last eight champions hailing from Ireland, including last year’s standout winner, El Fabiolo.
This year, the spotlight is on Marine Nationale, the Supreme winner, who leads the betting market despite a less than stellar performance at the Dublin Racing Festival.
A notable pattern in the Arkle Chase is the dominance of trainers Willie Mullins (with five wins) and Nicky Henderson (with four wins) in nine of the last twelve races, making their entries crucial considerations for bettors.
The race generally favors younger horses, with six or seven-year-olds winning eleven times in the past twelve years, except for Edwardstone (eight years old) in 2022.
Therefore, it’s advisable to focus on horses within this age range, as older competitors might struggle against their more youthful and dynamic counterparts.
A critical trend for this year’s race is that all of the last twelve Arkle winners triumphed in their last start before the festival, casting doubt on the current favorite Marine Nationale, who placed fifth at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Experience on the racecourse, particularly in novice chases, is vital.
The previous twelve winners had at least four hurdle starts before switching to chasing, and eleven had at least two fence starts.
Additionally, Cheltenham experience is equally significant, with ten of the last twelve winners having raced at Cheltenham before their Arkle victory.
First-timers at Cheltenham should be approached with caution.
The Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps, coming off a major victory in the Grade 1 Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival, fits the age criterion and has previous Cheltenham experience.
He finished fifth in both the Triumph Hurdle and the Supreme Novice Hurdle.
Currently, Il Etait Temps is the 5/1 second favorite for the race.
