- Supreme Novices Hurdle
- Arkle Challenge Trophy
- Will Hill Trophy Handicap Chase
- Champion Hurdle
- Cross Country Handicap Chase
- David Nicholson Mares Hurdle
- Centenary Novice Chase
- National Hunt Steeple Chase
- Neptune Investment Hurdle
- RSA Chase
- Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Coral Cup
- Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
- Champion Bumper
- Jewson Novices Chase
- Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
- Ryanair Chase
- Ladbrokes World Hurdle
- Byrne Group Plate
- Kim Muir Challenge Cup
- JCB Triumph Hurdle
- County Handicap Hurdle
- Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
- Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Foxhunter Steeple Chase
- Conditional Jockeys Hurdle
- Grand Annual Chase
Cheltenham Arkle Challenge Trophy
Cheltenham Festival race guide – The Arkle Challenge Trophy
Medermit is likely to go off favourite in the Arkle but it is a slight worry for backers that he has not won at Cheltenham in five attempts at the course. He drops back in trip for this race and it seems he could be the first beaten favourite of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. If Medermit fails again at Cheltenham it could be Ghizao who takes advantage, he seemed to try the wrong trip at the Festival last year over hurdles but he looks one of the best speed chasers this season and rates a solid bet.
Finian’s Rainbow has only beaten seven horses home all season but that hasn’t’ stopped him waiting all three races. They are likely to go a breakneck pace here and his jumping will come under plenty of scrutiny, he may not be quite up to that test. If there is a horse capable of running a big race at big odds it’s Mikael D’Hauguenet who won at last year’s Festival, it looked as though he has a big future but things haven’t dropped into place this season, he remains capable of much better.
Arkle Challenge Trophy odds
This is another race for novice chasers on the old course at Cheltenham; where they will swing left-handed once more before descending towards home. Named after one of it’s most famous competitors, Arkle, the race will find out those horses who lack fluency over the obstacles. The two-mile distance is the minimum trip at the festival but emphasis is very much on speed and good jumping. Nicky Henderson certainly knows how to ready a horse for this race, the shrewd trainer has won it three times but his most recent win was over a decade ago in 2000. Paul Nicholls and Alan King also have good records over the years in this race any horse from these top stables must be taken seriously in the betting.
What happened last year?
Sizing Europe pipped Somersby by ¾ of a length to take the corresponding race at last years festival and trends suggests horses that won last time out perform well in this one. Henry de Bromhead’s Sizing Europe had won its four previous starts and Somersby its last two, and it would be no surprise to see this year’s winner have form already in the book. As the new jumps season gets underway, it will be interesting to see how potential runners for this race fare in their trial runs. Paul Nicholls’ Celestial Halo who has fallen in his last two runs with Ruby Walsh aboard has been mooted as a possible entrant but the ante-post is relatively low key at this very early stage.
Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011?
The 2011 Arkle promises to be an eye-catching affair and all entries will be looking to end their respective jumping seasons on a high. Jump jockeys will also be aiming to cram in the winners at the festival and it wouldn’t be jump racing without Tony McCoy riding a boat load of winners. The 15-times Champion jockey has tasted Arkle success three times before and his mount will sure come in for money if the McCoy factor can loom large.
Victor Chandler
Bet 365
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