13:45 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 November 2024

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The November) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 3m 55.61s

San Salvador²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 136

25/1

Dual winning hurdler who is getting his act together over fences, supplementing his Listowel novice success in September with a Grade 3 victory at Roscommon just a week later. Best not judged on his latest effort over C&D (good) recently but needs to improve again.

Form: F74114

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Ballymackie^t1³⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan

100/1

Picked up for £160,000 after winning a couple of Irish points early last year. Pitched into a strong race for his Rules debut when last of 5 in a 2½m Warwick novice chase 12 months ago and now asked an even bigger question returning in a tongue tie. May improve but huge outsider in this.

Form: 2511/5-

Breizh River⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: Paul Robson| OR: 135| D

10/1

Failed to get his head in front over hurdles but handicap chases have been the making of him, scoring at Hexham and Bangor this summer. Took his record to 3-4 after a break with a big step forward in form terms at Kelso last month, but this is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Form: 2-21131

L'eau Du Sud^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148

10/11

Strikes as sort of good-class handicap hurdler (runner-up in Betfair and County Hurdle last year) his stable routinely turn into even better chasers and pulverised his 4 rivals on chase debut at Stratford (19.4f, good to soft) just over a fortnight ago. The one to beat with better to come.

Form: 3/P225-1

Lookaway¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 137| CD

11/4

Likeable sort who completed a hat-trick in course Grade 2 last October and several pretty useful efforts in defeat after at up to 20.5f. Made a return/chasing debut in a match event at Uttoxeter (16f, good to soft) earlier this month and seems sure to go on to better things in this sphere.

Form: 2203-51

Noble Anthem²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan| T: A Keatley| OR: 115| D

50/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who is lightly raced over jumps and clearly learnt plenty from his initial experience over fences when winning 5-runner handicap at Sedgefield last month. Seemed to excel himself when third in C&D novice just over 3 weeks ago (bled) but has a mountain to climb here.

Form: 4/2-2413

Petit Tonnerre²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127| BF

15/2

Useful hurdler at best who didn't convince with his jumping sent chasing last season. Below his best over hurdles subsequently but gave cause for encouragement back over fences returning from 4 months off when runner-up at Aintree (15.8f) recently, finishing well. Really wants further than this.

Form: 507-792

Western Zephyr³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| D

12/1

Winner of 3 of his half-a-dozen starts over hurdles and positive start in this sphere last season. Given a chance by the handicapper and finally got off the mark in this sphere on return following a wind op in 5-runner handicap at Carlisle (15.9f) last month. Must build on that now.

Form: 2454-P1

Forecasts

L'eau Du Sud (10/11), Lookaway (11/4), Petit Tonnerre (15/2), Breizh River (10/1), Western Zephyr (12/1), San Salvador (25/1), Noble Anthem (50/1), Ballymackie (100/1)

An Arkle trial in name only, L'EAU DU SUD the sort of good-class handicap hurdler his stable almost routinely turn into even better chasers and he's strongly fancied to take the step up in class in his stride and make it 2-2 in this sphere. Lookaway showed his likeable attitude when making a winning return/chase debut at Uttoxeter recently, so he heads up the dangers with improvement on the cards, with Western Zephyr taken to edge out San Salvador for third.