14:10 Cheltenham

Arkle Chase 2023 Runners

El Fabiolo

Many people envisaged Jonbon being sent off an odds-on favourite for this contest prior to El Fabiolo’s impressive success in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. However, that victory, in addition to a less than inspiring performance from Jonbon at Warwick, has seen the Irish raider surpass him in the betting.

That market shift is perhaps further aided by the fact that he only marginally gave way to a much more battled hardened Jonbon in the Grade 1 Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last spring and many were left with the belief that he would come out on top if the pair were to meet again in the future.

El Fabiolo has only had two starts over fences and will again be conceding experience to his Aintree foe. However, he made light work of four rivals at Fairyhouse in December and defeated seven worthy rivals, including three previous Cheltenham Festival scorers (Banbridge, Appreciate It and Saint Roi), by upwards of 10 lengths at Leopardstown last month.

That is almost certainly the best form on offer in this contest and Willie Mullins’ charge had to overcome a bad mistake at four from home in order to triumph.

El Fabiolo will obviously need to avoid mistakes of that magnitude in order to prevail tomorrow. However, he will undoubtedly have learnt plenty from that outing and he remains open to significant improvement, which must be a daunting proposition for his opposition.

Jonbon

Jonbon held a lofty reputation before even stepping foot on the racecourse and not only because of his impressive success between the flags. It had more to do with whom he is related too, being a full brother to 2016 Arkle Chase hero Douvan.

That detail undoubtedly increased his price tag to an eye watering £570,000 with JP McManus winning the inevitable tug-of-war, and last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up will attempt to land a third Grade 1 prize tomorrow.

Jonbon deafeated main market rival El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last spring and he made a seamless transition to fences at Warwick in November, when easily kicking aside the more experienced Monmiral.

He continued his education with a facile success over the 149 rated Boothill in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and was sent off a 1-16 favourite on his only subsequent outing, when landing the Grade 2 Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase last month.

Jonbon jumped right on occasions and didn’t win in the manor that many expected on the latter occasion. However, match races can often be unsatisfactory affairs and there’s no way that Nicky Henderson was going to have his charge fully wound up a month before the festival.

The exciting six-year-old was a joy to behold at Sandown and his slick jumping could put pressure on the aforementioned El Fabiolo, who wasn’t foot perfect when landing the Irish Arkle and doesn’t have the racecourse experience that Jonbon boasts.

No trainer can better Nicky Henderson’s seven previous victories in this contest and Jonbon, unlike his market rival, is a proven performer in the Cotswolds.

Dysart Dynamo

Dysart Dynamo has often flashed star potential but ultimately come up short in his career to date and he will need to be at the top of his game in order to compete tomorrow.

The Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old was sent off joint favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago, such was the impressive nature of his bumper and hurdle victories, and he was upsides Constitution Hill and seemingly full of running before coming to grief at three from home.

Dysart Dynamo was found to be clinically abnormal after disappointing at Punchestown subsequently. However, he appeared to have put those issues behind him when making a sparkling chasing debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, where he made all and cruised to a smooth 28 lengths success.

The Westener gelding deployed the same front-running tactics in the Irish Arkle last month but could only finish fourth after El Fabiolo, Banbridge and Appreciate It passed him in the closing stages. 

It’s impossible to know how he would have fared in the Supreme last year but it was certainly encouraging that he was in the mix when crashing out. That said, he was firmly put in his place by El Fabiolo last month and it’s hard to envisage him reversing that form.

Saint Roi

2020 County Hurdle winner Saint Roi failed to develop as connections hoped over hurdles in spite of placing third in the Champion Hurdle last year. Therefore chasing was the obvious route to take and connections were rewarded with a Grade 1 success at Leopardstown over Christmas. 

Saint Roi ran out a cosy winner on that occasion, reversing the form of his chasing debut defeat against Fil Dor in the process. He was arguably unlucky to unseat his rider on his latest outing in the Irish Arkle as it was seemingly more of a miscommunication than a mistake, and he could easily have more to offer in this sphere. 

It’s impossible to know how he would have fared given the timing of their departure, which is never an ideal scenario. However, it’s probably safe to assume that he will require a career best effort in order to trouble those towards the head of the market. 

Hollow Games

Hollow Games placed third in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle last year and he made the perfect start to his chasing career at Navan in November when comfortably accounting for 10 rivals.

That performance booked his ticket to the Grade 1 Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas where he was sent off a 9/2 shot. However, he looked outpaced on that occasion and could only finish fourth, beaten the best part of 22 lengths.

Hollow Games hasn’t set foot on a racetrack since and his lack of experience would naturally be a concern heading in to a Grade 1 contest at the Cheltenham Festival.

His apparent lack of speed would also draw red flags and his price probably reflects his chance.

Ha D’or

Ha D’or got the better of Ultima Handicap Chase fancy The Goffer when making a successful chasing debut at Fairyhouse in December. However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan since.

The Rich Ricci owned six-year-old was a disappointing joint favourite on his next start at Punchestown and found one too good when dropping back to 2 miles at Navan.

The latter of those races only came just 10 days ago and, even if fully recovered, it’s unlikely that he’ll find the necessary improvement to make his mark in this contest.

Straw Fan Jack

Straw Fan Jack won his first two starts over fences including a narrow victory over this course and distance October. However, he hasn’t been seen since placing fourth in handicap company at Newbury in November.

A long absence is perhaps not the ideal preparation for a Grade 1 novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival and it means he will be conceding experience to a number of his rivals in this race.

However, the course and distance victory is a feather in his cap and he could easily pick up some prize money if ridden to come home well.

Effernock Fizz

Effernock Fizz landed the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October and ran a fine race to chase home Dads Lad in a handicap chase at Cheltenham two weeks later.

She finally got off the mark over fences at Ludlow last month and she certainly boasts plenty of experience with 10 starts to her name. However, she has a mountain to climb on ratings and would have to battle Dysart Dynamo for the lead, which is certainly an unenviable task. 

Ballybreeze

Ballybreeze won his solitary start over fences at Chepstow in October and hasn’t been sighted since.

That victory was achieved off a rating of 110 and he received a 10lbs rise as a result, which still leaves him around 40lbs short of what is likely required to win this race.

Arkle Chase 2023 Tips & Prediction

Dysart Dynamo’s presence guarantees pace in the race and he is probably being unfairly overlooked after folding in the Irish Arkle last month.

This race is run over one furlong less, which is a positive for an enthusiastic front runner, and we shouldn’t forget that he was in the process of running a huge race in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year until falling at three form home.

However, there is, of course, every chance that he will set the race up perfectly for stablemate El Fabiolo once again.

There is no question that the Irish Arkle is the best piece of form on offer and it was certainly a mighty performance from a hose having just his second start over fences.

He displayed guts and class to overcome a significant mistake at the fourth last fence and that experience will certainly stand to him.

However, the strong pace will also suit JONBON, who has been forced to make the running in all three of his starts over fences.

Nicky Henderson’s charge is arguably the best jumper in the field, which will help him to keep tabs on the front running Dysart Dynamo.

He has proven form at Cheltenham after chasing home stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year and he also boasts a victory over El Fabiolo at Aintree.

Jonbon demonstrated both physical and mental toughness on that occasion and he will represent the winning most trainer in this contest. He therefore ticks all of the boxes.

Saint Roi was unfortunate to lose his rider in the Irish Arkle last month and he could pick up the pieces if those in front start to falter.