England and Ireland split the 12-strong field for this fascinating contest equally with six runners apiece, but the local horses dominate the betting. View Neil Morrice’s preview on the 2019 Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Race 2) at the Cheltenham Festival below.
(Hold your phone horizontally (on its side) to view the full race information below)
|
No
|
Horse
|
Odds
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
|
1
|
Articulum (IRE)
|
20/1
|
D. J. Mullins
|
Terence O’Brien
|
|
2
|
Clondaw Castle (IRE)
|
20/1
|
Ciaran Gethings
|
Tom George
|
|
3
|
Duc Des Genievres (FR)
|
11/2
|
P. Townend
|
W. P. Mullins
|
|
4
|
Glen Forsa (IRE)
|
7/2
|
Jonathan Burke
|
Mick Channon
|
|
5
|
Hardline (IRE)
|
11/2
|
Davy Russell
|
Gordon Elliott
|
|
6
|
Kalashnikov (IRE)
|
17/2
|
Jack Quinlan
|
Amy Murphy
|
|
7
|
Knocknanuss (IRE)
|
14/1
|
Jamie Moore
|
Gary Moore
|
|
8
|
Lalor (GER)
|
7/2
|
Richard Johnson
|
Kayley Woollacott
|
|
9
|
Ornua (IRE)
|
14/1
|
Rachael Blackmore
|
H de Bromhead
|
|
10
|
Paloma Blue (IRE)
|
10/1
|
Robbie Power
|
H de Bromhead
|
|
11
|
Slate House (IRE)
|
66/1
|
Harry Cobden
|
Colin Tizzard
|
|
12
|
Us and Them (IRE)
|
14/1
|
J. J. Slevin
|
J.P. O’Brien
|
Betting last updated on Monday 11th March 2019.
Betting is subject to change. E&OE.
Neil Morrice Preview
Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase 2019
Race 2 – 16:10
Tuesday 12th March 2019
Grade 1 – 1m 7f 199y – £102,772
The Mick Channon-trained GLEN FORSA has looked something out of the ordinary in an unblemished sequence of three straight victories over fences at Chepstow, Kempton and Sandown.
His jumping has been breathtaking and enabled him to take lengths off his rivals at the fences, whilst at Sandown he put the race to bed with a lethal injection of pace before the homeward turn that put KALASHNIKOV firmly in his place.
LALOR showed a liking for this course by scoring impressively on his first outing of the season but was then turned over when Odds-on at Sandown in December. He had a big reputation as a hurdler and connections believe he’s spot on after a mid season break.
DUC DES GENIEVRES has improved to open his seasonal account at Gowran doing handstands, but this represents a big step up the class ladder and he won’t be allowed his own way in front.
KALASHNIKOV was good enough before being sent chasing to win a Betfair Hurdle and so it was surprising to see him readily outspeeded by Glen Forsa at Sandown.
The only excuse is that he’s never been as effective on right-handed courses, in which case he needs to be taken seriously back in his comfort zone.
HARDLINE acquitted himself well to place in a warm novice chase at Leopardstown and is a winner of three of his five outings this season making him impossible to leave out.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish
|
1st
|
:
|
4
|
–
|
Glen Forsa (IRE)
|
|
2nd
|
:
|
8
|
–
|
Lalor (GER)
|
|
3rd
|
:
|
6
|
–
|
Kalashnikov (IRE)
|
|
4th
|
:
|
3
|
–
|
Duc Des Genievres (FR)
|
|
5th
|
:
|
5
|
–
|
Hardline (IRE)
|
View Neil Morrice’s previews for the following Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Races below:
Race 1 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Race 2 – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase
Race 3 – Ultima Handicap Chase
Race 4 – Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Race 5 – OLBG Mares’ Hurdle
Race 6 – Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
Race 7 – National Hunt Challenge Cup
