Racecards
15:45 Leopardstown (IRE)
Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €125,000 added
- Winner: €73,750
- 2nd: €23,750
- 3rd: €11,250
- 4th: €4,999
- Form 232211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
in rear, slight mistake 2nd, closed up from 9th, no impression in 4th from before last where left 3rd and badly hampered, one pace and soon dropped to last again
- Form P4-F112
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
close up and took keen hold, fell 2nd
- Form 0-51121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Mark Walsh
raced in 5th, left in 4th from 2nd, 3rd at 5th, travelling smoothly approaching straight, challenged from before last, soon on terms and left in lead, ridden out to assert run-in, stayed on well
- Form R233-14
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
raced in 4th, left in 3rd from 2nd, slightly slow and 4th again at 5th, pushed along after 9th, soon dropped to rear and no impression, left moderate 4th from last, kept on same pace and soon 3rd
- Form 20-4122
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey J J Slevin
raced in 3rd, left in 2nd from 2nd, slightly slow 4th, on terms briefly 9th, pushed along before straight, soon challenged, kept on same pace from last
- Form 103113
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
led, jumped slightly right at times, joined briefly 9th, pushed along before straight, joined again from before last where fell
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Gary Moore doesn't tilt at windmills so he must believe Knocknanuss has a chance of upsetting the home contingent. His charge found 2m3f stretching his stamina at Plumpton after making all for facile victories at Fakenham and Newbury and he will have them all strung out here. However, LE RICHEBOURG is already a winner at this level having beaten stable companion Us And Them in the Racing Post Novices' Chase over the course and distance on St Stephen's Day. Joseph O'Brien's charge had Voix Du Reve five lengths behind in third and the disappointing Mengli Khan just behind in fifth and it's difficult to see a form reversal. Duca De Thaix has won two very tough handicaps at Fairyhouse but was behind Us And Them at Navan earlier while Paloma Blue needs to do much more than when landing a beginners' event here in December. Articulum only had two rivals to beat in a novice chase at Naas a month ago.
Formwatch
Duca De Thaix (FR) 3-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway travelling well to lead after 2 out and asserted before last, ridden and kept on run-in, reduced advantage close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp gd in Jan beating Cubomania (10-11) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Knocknanuss (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Keen early, led, clear before 10th, reduced lead when hit 4 out, hard ridden after 3 out, joined next, headed and outpaced between last 2, no chance with winner but clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Master Dino (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) gs in Jan.
Le Richebourg (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closed up approaching 2 out, soon on terms, led approaching last where slight mistake, soon asserted and stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Dec beating Us And Them (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Waited with, soon raced in 5th, 4th 3 out, pushed along after next, one pace from before last, 4th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Le Richebourg (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Dec.
Us And Them (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, jumped well, on terms 2nd, led 5th, joined from 2 out, headed approaching last, soon no impression, kept on run-in to prevail for 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Le Richebourg (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Dec.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 9-4 (11-12) Led, jumped slightly right 1st, joined 2nd, slight mistake 5th and headed, pushed along after 2 out, kept on same pace from before last and denied 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Le Richebourg (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Dec.
Articulum (IRE) Evens (11-2) Made all, not fluent 7th but otherwise jumped well, ridden 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m Good - Yielding in Jan beating Campeador (11-8) by 7 1/2l, 3 ran.
Paloma Blue (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, inclined to jump slightly right, joined 6th, slight mistake 5 out, led again from 4 out, a little slow 3 out and briefly headed, soon back on terms again, left clear from last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f gd in Dec beating Moon Over Germany (11-12) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.