14:10 Cheltenham

Tuesday 14 March 2023

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 3m 55.22s

Ballybreeze¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 120| D

150/1

Looked a nice prospect when making a successful start over fences in a 2m Chepstow novice handicap in October but he's very much pitched in at the deep end on his first outing since.

Form: 74323-1

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Dysart Dynamo^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| D

5/1

Enthusiastic front-runner who made an impressive winning start to his chase career at Leopardstown over Christmas. Did too much too soon when 10½ lengths fourth to El Fabiolo in Irish Arkle there since and it remains to be seen whether he has anything left for the hill here.

Form: 11F5-14

El Fabiolo³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| D

11/10

Smart novice hurdler last term (second to Jonbon in Aintree Grade 1) and very impressive winner of both chase starts this time round, particularly when forging 10 lengths clear of Banbridge in Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. Leading claims for yard seeking a fifth win since 2015.

Form: 12-111

Ha D'Or^h¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| BF| D

66/1

Made a sucsessful start to his chase career at Fairyhouse just before Christmas but his limitations have seemingly been exposed at Graded level since. His stable has some much more obvious contenders.

Form: 2-2142

Hollow Games^t⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| DWS

28/1

Matched his very useful hurdle form when making a winning start over fences at Navan in November. Bit disappointing iwhen a well-held fourth of 5 to Saint Roi in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas but he's better than that. Has had wind surgery prior to this.

Form: 33-514

Jonbon³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 159| D

2/1

His only defeat under Rules came when bumping into Constitution Hill in last season's Supreme. 3-3 over fences this term and though he made a bit of a meal of beating his sole rival in Grade 2 Kingmaker at Warwick last month that one did go and win a decent handicap next time. Bold show likely.

Form: 121-111

Saint Roi^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| C| D

11/1

Very smart hurdler who showed he's as good over fences with a Grade 1 success at Leopardstown over Christmas. Unseated halfway in the Irish Arkle there since. The form of that Leopardstown win has taken a couple of knocks but he remains capable of better.

Form: -4321U

Straw Fan Jack¹⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 141| CD

50/1

Built for chasing and left his hurdle form behind when winning novices at Ffos Las (handicap) and over C&D in October. Lost his unbeaten record over fences in a Newbury handicap in November but he still ran well attempting to concede weight all round. Freshened up since, but plenty to find.

Form: 247-114

Effernock Fizz^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: C Collins| OR: 142| D

125/1

Very useful mare. Won Welsh Champion Hurdle (Handicap) at Ffos Las in October and second in a C&D handicap chase a fortnight later. Gained an overdue first chase success in a 3-runner mares' novice at Ludlow last month but this is a whole different ball game.

Form: 212721

Forecasts

El Fabiolo (11/10), Jonbon (2/1), Dysart Dynamo (5/1), Saint Roi (11/1), Hollow Games (28/1), Straw Fan Jack (50/1), Ha D'Or (66/1), Effernock Fizz (125/1), Ballybreeze (150/1)

EL FABIOLO and Jonbon (won) were separated by only a neck in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree last spring. The former's comfortable defeat of Banbridge at Leopardstown last month is narrowly the best piece of 2m novice chase form this season so he's taken to edge out Nicky Henderson's charge this time. Saint Roi gets the vote for third.