Arkle Novices' Chase Tips & Predictions
The Arkle Novices' Chase is the second race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and, although Majborough is all the rage in the betting, the race could turn out to be much more competitive than the market would suggest.
The Irish have dominated the race in recent years, landing five of the last seven renewals, but Dan Skelton will be looking to put the record straight this time around.
A field of just five will go to post for Tuesday's 14:00 race. Here are three to keep in mind, including one at good odds.
NAP: L'Eau Du Sud @ SP
There's a chance L'Eau Du Sud hasn't received the respect in the market that he deserves, and the Dan Skelton-trained runner might just win this.
Experience can count for a lot as a novice chaser and he certainly has the edge in that regard. He's two years older than odds-on favourite Majborough and he also has more experience over fences, which includes a win over the Arkle course and distance.
L'Eau Du Sud kicked off his chasing campaign with a 10-length handicap win at Stratford in October, before landing the Arkle trial here and then landing his first Grade 1 in the Henry VII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December.
Kept up to his work to win a Grade 2 at Warwick last month, he beat Rubaud on that occasion and gave him weight, while Rubaud has since come out to win a Grade 2 of his own to give the form a nice boost.
The selection is a solid jumper and he was runner-up in the County Hurdle at the festival last year so he comes here with a solid chance.
NB: Majborough @ SP
If Majborough came here and won as he liked, nobody could say they weren't expecting it.
Willie Mullins' star novice chaser won the Triumph Hurdle last year, and he looks a potential star already over fences, beating the reopposing Touch Me Not by nine lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival when last seen.
However, there could be reasons to take on the odds-on favourite. For a start, he isn't the most polished of jumpers and can throw in the odd clumsy jump.
He is also only a five-year-old. The last horse of his age to win the Arkle was Voy Por Ustedes back in 2006, so he has that angle against him too.
Longshot pick: Only By Night @ SP
She will probably fall short of the front pair in the market, but Gavin Cromwell's Only By Night is well worth her place in the lineup.
The seven-year-old mare is unbeaten in three starts over fences, landing a Grade 2 at Cork in the process.
She will have to improve a good deal from her one-length win at Exeter last time, but she's improving gradually and she had easier options than this to go for.
