Racecards
14:10 Cheltenham
Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 199y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £175,000 added
- Winner: £98,472
- 2nd: £37,100
- 3rd: £18,568
- 4th: £9,275
- Form 74323-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer S Drinkwater
- Jockey R T Dunne
held up off the pace in last trio, behind at 7th (water), tailed off when bad mistake 4 out
- Form 11F5-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
led and bit keen, mistake and narrowly headed 2 out, soon no extra in 3rd, fell last
- Form 12-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
close 3rd, travelling well on inside before 2 out, led narrowly 2 out, 3 lengths ahead when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well run-in
- Form 2-2142
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Sean O'Keeffe
held up off the pace in last trio, closer and pushed along in 5th after 3 out, left modest 4th at the last, lost that placing close home
- Form 33-514
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
soon well behind, tailed off and pulled up before 9th
- Form 121-111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 159
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leader, edging left and every chance 2 out, chased winner soon after, ridden and three lengths down at the last, hung left and no extra run-in
- Form -4321U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mark Walsh
held up off the pace in last trio, steady headway after 9th, went 4th next, pushed along home turn, left modest 3rd at the last
- Form 247-114
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer Sheila Lewis
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
held up off the pace in 5th, mistake 8th, reached for 4 out, lost place soon after, left 5th at the last, went remote 4th close home
- Form 212721
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 142
off the pace in 4th, weakening when bad blunder 4 out, tailed off
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Paul Townend deserted El Fabiolo in Leopardstown’s Arkle and had a rear view of the gelding, who won by 10 lengths with Dysart Dynamo only fourth having cut out the early running. Another Mullins inmate, Saint Roi, was behind when unseating his rider. The six-year-old ran JONBON (NAP) to a neck in a Grade 1 over hurdles at Aintree last season but Nicky Henderson’s charge has also shown himself to be a force to be reckoned with over the larger obstacles this term, winning a Grade 1 at Sandown in December. Aidan Coleman did have to shake him up to win a match at Warwick last time but he was racing lazily and the experience he gained when finishing second to the brilliant Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices on this card 12 months ago will stand him in good stead today. Straw Fan Jack could go well at a price for Sheila Lewis’ yard as he was trying to give weight to some smart novices at Newbury when last seen.
Formwatch
Ballybreeze 9-4 (11-4) Held up in touch in last pair, left in 4th place after 7th, went 2nd going well 4 out, led 3 out, clear next, hard held, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Mascat (11-13) by 3l, 6 ran.
Dysart Dynamo (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, took keen hold, joined after 2 out, soon ridden, headed before last, disputed 2nd at last, 3rd after last, kept on one pace, 4th close home, 4th of 8, 10 1/2l behind El Fabiolo (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
El Fabiolo (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hold, mistake 4 out, headway to dispute lead travelling well after 2 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb beating Banbridge (11-12) by 10l, 8 ran.
Ha D'Or (FR) 2-1 (11-1) Led, not fluent 5th, joined and pushed along before 2 out, mistake 2 out and ridden, headed before last, mistake at last, no extra in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Indiana Jones (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Mar.
Hollow Games (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd and pushed along approaching 3 out, 4th and ridden 2 out, no extra in rear entering straight, moderate 4th and mistake last, 4th of 5, 21 3/4l behind Saint Roi (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Jonbon (FR) 1-16fav (11-7) Led, headed 6th when rival quickened pace, remained handy, shaken up and led again home turn, pushed along 2 out, stayed on and asserted run-in, readily, won at Warwick 2m (1) gd in Feb beating Calico (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 2 ran.
Saint Roi (FR) 10-1 (11-12) In rear, jumped right at 4th, off pace when unseated rider next, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Straw Fan Jack 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd and hit 9th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression when weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 6, 5 1/2l behind Frere D'armes (10-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Effernock Fizz (IRE) 2-11fav (11-0) Made all, not fluent 4 out or 2 out, shaken up to assert flat, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) gd in Feb beating Walk In Clover (11-0) by 4 3/4l, 3 ran.