Arkle (2017)

Lets hope Yorkhill goes that route too. Look as though 2m was too sharp on its last outing but hopefully that was just the effects of a hard season. Sadly we wont know what his plans are until Monday March 13th along with most of the Willie Mullins stable.

Have had a few quid on Old Guard at 33/1 and he makes his debut over fences tomorrow. Slightly concerned he had a second entry over 2m3f, but strikes me as more of a 2m type than a JLT horse.

Seems to be one of those horses who is underestimated and can keep improving and improving imo. Excellent Cheltenham form and an appetite for the hill are both an obvious bonus.

With Altior going for this, I really like Beveur D'Air for the JLT.

You'd imagine they'll be kept apart this year, and I think the step up in trip is inevitable and will bring out improvement.

There weren't many better 2m novice hurdlers last year and 14/1 for the JLT is tempting, but I'm still undecided whether I'll have many anteposts this year.

Yanworth will be one hell of a chaser if they take that route, either over 2m or 2m4f.

Some tasty looking novice chases this year.

Chief- Yanworth is staying hurdling - http://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12040/10604104/yanworth-set-to-reappear-in-coral-hurdle-at-ascot

I also believe Beveur D'Air is staying hurdling this year. Cant recall where I read it. i think it maybe in one of the Jumping preview books where there was an interview with Nicky in it.

Great start

That's exactly why I'll be reining the antepost in this year!

The owner suggested when interviewed by MC on ATR Yorkhill would want further than 2 miles and the JLT an early favourite over the Arkle, this was back around May though.

Very keen on Tombstone as my novice chaser to follow this year - but whether it will be Arkle or JLT bound is anyones guess. He reminds me a lot of Forpaddydeplasterer (such happy Arkle memories).

Have chucked away a few quid at 50/1+ for the Arkle.

On 7th Oct Henderson was reported to have been schooling many of his big novice chase hopes for the forthcoming coming season eg Altior and Buveur D'air, with the former having the Arkle target confirmed, the latter none as yet, but the likely ones would be the JLT or RSA, I'd imagine.

Old Guard having another go today... hopefully he completes this time.

Pretty sure we didnt see the 2017 Arkle winner there

Jesus. He jumps a fence how I imagine a crab would

patrick says nothing will get near yorkhill in the arkle if dad decides to go chasing

"Pretty sure we didn't see the 2017 Arkle winner"

I think you are 'probably' right there...unless I categorically and vociferously state Old Guard will not win the 2017 Arkle. And you know what happened when I said that about Found winning the 2016 'Arc'? Yes, he won it!

If Altior jumps fences as well as hurdles Yorkhill will most likely stay over hurdles or be aimed at the JLT or RSA instead with Yanworth being kept to hurdles again. I think Yorkhill beat Yanworth in the Neptune because Geraghty took a 'wider' course than normal.

Then the trainer of Yorkhill did a Hugo Palmer (Galileo Gold) by over-running Yorkhill, and the horse 'bombed' badly in his final race at Punchestown.

I loved Charbel's attitude today at Uttoxeter - jumped really well and looks a natural over fences, doing it the hard way from the front against two good horses in Top Notch and La Perizien.

25's for the Arkle doesn't look too bad to me.

Agreed, been a fan of Charbel since his Musselburgh run in February. Loads of positives about him, has an element of class, a great attitude, tough and finds off the bridle, can jump a fence and jump a fence under pressure. Thought he ran a good race in the Supreme considering he was never going to be a hurdler. Tempted to have my first antepost bet and back him at the prices however my one issue is the feeling I get that he'd be tapped for toe in an Arkle, he just has that kind of running style. Much like the Supreme the Arkle is ran at a million miles an hour and he admittedly looked rushed off his feet when Altior and Min turned up the heat back in March. I don't doubt fences will bring out a lot more in him but possibly the JLT trip may be more suited to him. I may be wrong but from what I've seen I have my suspicions. I think it's good tactics to ride him prominently as well, just seems to find more.

Great chase debut though, answered a lot of questions there and one to be respected wherever he goes.

Looking forward to Yorkhill runnning on sunday and Mullins hopefully coming to the realisation that he is the one to take on Altior with in the Arkle, thought the first round of jumping was fairly impressive and the jumping out to the left might not be an issue at Cheltenham given the direction of the track. Could be a cracking race and one of the highlights of the festival.

I think Min is a certainty to run in this, which is why Yorkhill will go JLT.  Remember Ricci first, Wylie 2nd. Always, that's the pecking order.

If Altior runs in the Clarence House in 2 weeks and let's say wins easily a la Thistlecrack against open class horses, does anyone think Henderson could have a pop at Douvan in the QMCC?  After all, he still has Buveur Dair and Top Notch for this?

Just a thought?

does anyone think Henderson could have a pop at Douvan in the QMCC?


Hope not

No chance Altior runs in the QMCC with Douvan lining up.

Yorkhill is a future GC horse so the JLT is a perfect stepping stone. Plus it's a much easier race as i believe Altior is top class.

If there is another race Altior would run in at Cheltenham this March it would be the Champion Hurdle and he would win it (I believe) if Faugheen and Annie Power are absent; there is little to no chance of Altior taking on Douvan or Un De Sceaux in the Champion Chase, very possibly later in the year eg Tingle Creek at Sandown. But by then connections of Douvan could have opted for the King George.

I think there is more chances of Altior taking on Yorkhill either in the Arkle or the Champion Hurdle than running against Douvan in the Champion Chase in March.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Altior will run against Douvan (then again didn't think Thistlecrack would run in KG against Cue Card) but should he run in the Clarence House & remember Un de Sceaux, Sire de Grugy, Ar Mad & Special Tiara amongst others are entered. If and it is an if, he were to win well, does nobody think he will get an entry or serious thought about running in the QMCC?

It's obviously becoming more trendy to run top novices in the open championship races than it once was.  Altior is also the same age as Douvan and they may just think have a go!

Just another way of looking at it, but a lot of ifs!

I'm really surprised how many people are still mentioning yorkhill for the arkle, I know he has won over 2 miles but he seems far better to me over further. Even if there was no min I'm pretty confident he would still be in the JLT, and with min we all know ruby wants to ride all the good ones so seems a no brainer they will be seperated to suit the stable! When he won the tolworth last year it was on heavy going so clearly more suited for staying types. Stepped up in trip he was then impressive and then back down to 2 miles was very disappointing at punchestown. If my memory serves me correctly graham wylie also commented at the start of the year he needs further then 2 miles.

I think we're overthinking this. What on earth would possess Henderson to take Altior down the Champion Hurdle / Champion Chase route? There's no need for him to be bumping into Douvan this season and he's shown nothing to suggest he should to go back to hurdles. He can jump a fence very well so there's no need for him to be seen over hurdles again.

If he makes it to Cheltenham then he runs in the Arkle, it's a no brainer. Henderson isn't a trainer renowned for taking those sort of bold decisions, and he's no need to here really.

I think it is because Altior is such a good horse, and he is only 7yrs old. Should Faugheen (and Annie Power) do not turn up in the Champion Hurdle the race is there for the taking and, Altior fits the bill to a T even if Yorkhill turns up ie Altior has the class, pace and form to win the 2m Champion Hurdle with the minimum of fuss - this will be a huge feather in Altior's cv for sure - and post the race Altior could resume his chasing career at Aintree if connection are that way inclined.

I agree, it does not make any sense to do battle with Douvan in the Champion Chase this year - there will be many opportunities next year, I envisage.

Altior is The Arkle winner and that's where he'll go.

Great field hacks up at Leopardstown beating Don't Touch it by 8 lengths with Identity Thief out of sight


Any chance he gets supplemented, now 2 for 2 over fences. Also beat Mall Dini by 7.5lengths

I've made my first two bets in the race over the last 24 hours. The first is Flying Angel (w/o Altior) 8/1. The second is A Hare Breath (w/o Altior) 10/1. My stake on the former is more than twice the stake on the latter. I would not be completely against an each way bet on these ones in the main market - if Douvan was a NR and Altior switched to the CC, or if Altior was a NR for any other reason you'd essentially be left with the same bets at roughly three times the price. I've decided to play the w/o market as it looks like Altior will line up.

OK, Flying Angel - close up second last year in the Martin Pipe (2m 4f on good - New Course) to Ibis Du Rheu is a decent indicator for likely going, course, left-handed etc. Plenty of good ones have gone on from that race to make top chasers. Over fences results have been mixed 1FP1 but lto won the Grade 2 Kingmaker at Warwick (Flagship Uberalles, Long Run and Finians Rainbow all run that race as novices) beating Kerry Lee's Gino Trail by 4.5 lengths and that one had run Buveur D'Air to 2.5 lengths on BD's second chase win. I wouldn't get carried away about distances and obviously BD is back over hurdles now but its an interesting formline and obviously Gino Trail itself is still currently in the Arkle field. Flying Angel has an entry for the JLT as well and personally I'd take it there but looking at the exchanges there's far more trying to back it for the Arkle than the JLT so presumably this is where it goes. Personally I think its probably achieved more than some of the horses at shorter prices in the market, it should definitely handle the ground having won on everything from Heavy to Good and the main doubt for me would be the yard form, but Nigel had a few placed at Newbury last Friday so it's not a huge concern.

A Hare Breath - I'm not as keen on this one but it's a certain runner and the field should still cut up further. Pauling's comments seem to indicate he rates it fairly highly and you'd think this would have a chance of finishing in the first 4 home.

Nice write up marychain

I've also backed FA in the w/o Altior market at 12/1 though only for a tenner, have Altior in two main bets at 5/4 and 6/4. These are my only two bets in the race.

Excellent prices STS

on Some Plan 10s WO,50s(with).
Hope he runs but the De Bromhead
bit on ATR,no mention of him.
   GL ALL

Did it well enough, but will need to improve to beat Douvan next year

Wasn't a cakewalk but he is always at his strongest in the final quarter and was well on top at the end.
Might have been much more interesting if Yorkhill had run in it.

It's a relief as someone who had no betting interest in the race. Job done.

Great field would have gone close based on that in my opinion

So quick over his fences