Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase

1.45 Cheltenham
Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner €52,000

Pick: Realt Dubh (win)

Flat Out: Hacked up on his hurdling debut and then ran an excellent race in light of his inexperience in the Supreme, following that up with a second behind stablemate at the Punchestown festival; Bolted in apart for one shocker at the last at Punchestown and will be tough to beat here.

Mr Cracker: Gained third chase win when bolting home unchallenged in the Greenmount Park novice chase (Grade 2) at Limerick last time; Has a lot more on in this company with the trip not so sure to suit.

Noble Prince: A strong travelling, fluent jumper who’s remarkable versatile as he showed when fourth in the World Series Hurdle before landing beginner’s chase with ease at Punchestown in October; Well behind Realt Dubh over Christmas in the Bord Na Mona here but stable in better form.

Realt Dubh: Useful over hurdles and better over fences, landing his debut with ease and seeming set to win Grade 3 (travelling well, disputing) when falling; Made amends with Craddockstown Chase win and outsped by Mikael D’Haugenet before the last in Drinmore, but right back to his best when taking advantage of below par performance of latter named horse and fall of Saludous at last to take the Bord Na Mona chase by 5 legnths: Meets three reopposing horses but no reason why he shouldn’t beat them all again.

Saludos: held on grimly from Asigh Pearl and stablemate Coole River to win a war of attrition at Punchestown in listed contest before close second in Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at this meeting last year (went on to come another close second in valuable event); Ran a tremendous race and probably not beaten when falling at the last in the Bord Na Mona last time, so given serious respect.

Shirley Casper: Grade three winner who hasn’t been able to come back like her best since being given a break/switched to fences and has mountain to climb at this level.

Tramp Stamp: Travelled well until she fell on debut (admittedly being pushed hard in the home straight); managed only third in mares Grade 3 last time so up against it here.

VERDICT: Flat Out is a potentially serious horse and Saludos wasn’t beaten at the last when falling, but REALT DUBH will be hard to beat if repeating his last effort when he came home clear in the Bord Na Mona Chase at Christmas.