Arkle Chase.

This is the knock-on effect of introducing races like the 2 1/2 mile novice chase.

A decade ago we'd be looking at a much different Ankle field.

Never understood avoiding one horse, nothing is ever certain in racing.

Sonko you mug. There's loads of Certs just on day one.

There are good things over hurdles but fences are a very different matter. A small field makes it very much easier for Douvan though. Plenty of "good things" in Arkle chases have fallen in the past. I went to a Cheltenham Preview at the course many years ago when David Nicholson had a 6/4 fav. in the Arkle ridden by Adrian Maguire. Questions from the floor where allowed in those days so when the panel (including the Duke) unanimously tipped the horse, I suggested that it was evens to complete never mind win to which The Duke looked very cross and said it was a very good jumper and everyone else decided I was a mug. It fell at the third.

^^Mulligan?

Think Dunwoody rode it.

You might be right about that but the one I remembered was Maguire I think.

Maguire would have rode it in nearly all his races, including the runs prior to the Arkle.

Think he picked up a suspension which ruled him out?

Thanks, could be right.

Short memory sage/. Sprinter Sacre beating Cue Card in Arkle 6 runners

Is 2/5 such a bad price for Douvan to complete 'cos that's what we're talking about here?

Ask any of the other trainers which horse they would like in their care and this horse would be the response from most, if not all of them.

What a jumper for a novice Douvan is? Champion Chase winner next year, surely!

6-4

A joke

6/4, with or without Vautour?

6/4 is some joke alright.

Plenty will be daft enough to take it.