Racing Post Responsiblegambling Arkle Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 4m 9.63s

Al Dancer²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 151| CD

7/4

Impressive winner of two high-profile handicap hurdles as a novice, and made an impressive debut (sans hood) over fences here last month, with a rusty Getaway Trump third. Sure to go well again.

Form: 11110-1

Getaway Trump²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| D

9/4

Like Al Dancer, he was a smart novice hurdler last term, and travelled best until seeming to blow up on his chase debut here last month. Entitled to get much closer now.

Form: 24411-3

Rouge Vif^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 142| D

11/4

Battled well to make a winning debut over fences at Market Rasen, and took the scalp of Getaway Trump when winning a Grade 2 hurdle at Kelso in the spring, and entitled to plenty of respect on that basis.

Form: 12113-1

Put The Kettle On⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137| D

6/1

Been on the go through the summer, and has already won three times over fences. Improved again when ½L second of 6 to Robin de Carlow in G3 Like A Butterfly Novices' Chase at Tipperary last time, and no pushover here.

Form: 311112

Forecasts

Al Dancer (7/4), Getaway Trump (9/4), Rouge Vif (11/4), Put The Kettle On (6/1)

This race has been talked of as a rematch between Al Dancer and Getaway Trump, after the pair clashed over C&D last month, but there's more depth to it than that despite the small field, and ROUGE VIF, who beat Getaway Trump hands down at Kelso over hurdles is taken to upstage the pair. He made a highly encouraging chase debut when winning at Market Rasen, and will not be inconvenienced by the conditions.