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

5YO plus | Class 1 | 1m 7f 199y | 7 Runners | Turf

Hansard⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 137| D

50/1

Useful handicap hurdler who stepped forward from his seasonal/chase debut when comfortably landing the odds in 3-runner maiden at Lingfield in December. Improved again when second to Mambonumberfive in Grade 2 Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas but this demands a good deal more.

Form: 097-412

Jax Junior^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 146| C

18/1

Three-time novice hurdle winner last season and has shown even better form when notching the same number of wins over fences this time round, easily taking Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton (20.5f, good) last time. He's smart but this looks an ultra-strong renewal.

Form: 1-21411

Kopek Des Bordes^h¹¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| CD

11/8

Winner of the Supreme on this day 12 months ago. Cruised clear in a Navan maiden chase on reappearance in November. His absence since (had surgery to remove a bone chip from his knee) means he lacks chase experience but he could be talented enough to cope.

Form: 111-41

Lulamba³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 163| D

13/8

One of the leading juvenile hurdlers last season and has rapidly developed into an even better chaser, bolting up in Sandown Grade 1 novice before readily dispatching more experienced rivals in the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury last month. Will be hard to beat again.

Form: 2-1111

Steel Ally^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 153| D

12/1

Very useful hurdler who has taken it up another notch since chasing, winning all 3 starts, including Grade 2s at Ascot (19f, good to soft) and Warwick (2m, soft). Looks capable of even better.

Form: P2P-111

Kargese^h³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C| D

11/2

Smart hurdler who has quickly shown herself to be even better over fences, winning a Leopardstown maiden over Christmas before going down by only a neck to Romeo Coolio in the Irish Arkle there last month. Needs considering in receipt of weight all round.

Form: 213-212

Non-Runners

Mambonumberfive³¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kopek Des Bordes (11/8), Lulamba (13/8), Kargese (9/2), Steel Ally (12/1), Jax Junior (20/1), Mambonumberfive (33/1), Hansard (66/1)

Two hugely exciting sorts clash here. LULAMBA has already had the chance to prove he's a top-class novice chaser courtesy of a pair Graded wins and can put that experience to good use and see off last year's Supreme hero Kopek des Bordes, who has been restricted to just the one run over fences. Kargese looks best of the rest in what promises to be a cracker.