Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 13.90s

Any Second Now³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 145

8/1

Has 11L to find with Footpad on running here on Boxing Day. Has also chased home Monalee and Invitation Only this term, so improvement needed if not to claim minor honours again.

Form: 13U-222

Footpad³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| CD

4/9

Already a short price for the Cheltenham equivalent next month after a striking display here on Boxing Day. Stable has taken this with Douvan and Un De Sceaux in recent years and he could be just as good.

Form: 4243-11

Petit Mouchoir¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| C

3/1

Comfortably beat Footpad in last year's Irish Champion Hurdle and successfully made the transition to chasing when scoring easily at Punchestown. Has always been prone to a mistake and can ill afford any mishaps in a race with no margin for error.

Form: 3F113-1

Tycoon Prince^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| CD

28/1

Useful hurdler who was always expected to make a better chaser. No disgrace in going down to Al Boum Photo on chase debut before impressing with the speed and accuracy of his jumping last time. Needs to find a lot more to figure in this.

Form: 2P/45-21

Demi Sang²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| D

16/1

Unbeaten in three starts over fences including debut for these connections. Spent too much time in the air that day and his technique will need to be much slicker if he is to lie up with the likes of Footpad and Petit Mouchoir.

Form: 313111

Forecasts

Footpad (4/9), Petit Mouchoir (3/1), Any Second Now (8/1), Demi Sang (16/1), Tycoon Prince (28/1)

There is less to choose between FOOTPAD and Petit Mouchoir than the market suggests. However, the latter's stable have been underachieving lately and his tendency to drop in an occasional error could prove telling. The selection has impressed with his technique over fences and recorded a good time when scoring here last time. He clearly holds Any Second Now on that performance, but that rival still appears to hold stronger claims than Demi Sang and Tycoon Prince.