Irish Arkle 2014

1.30 Leopardstown

Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €52,000

Advice: 1 pt win Mozotlov (3/1 general)

Defy Logic: High class, hard going sort who just ran Naas beginners chase opposition into the ground before being readily outrun by Felix Yonger at Punchestown in Grade 2; Took advantage of big mistake made by Champagne Fever to run away with Grade 1 over C&D here latest and going to take some beating in the same form, especially if getting an easy lead, for all this harder.

Felix Yonger: Progressed hand over first to land Grade 2 hurdle (same one Defy Logic was second in last year) and then finish second in Neptune; Won first three starts chasing, dropping down to this trip with no trouble when beating Defy Logic in style on yielding surface before big reverse in Grade 2 at Christmas, where being held up may not have helped as he failed to give 6lbs to useful stablemate over 2m5f, although suspicion that soft ground didn’t help his cause at all either; That was disappointing but can expect better today even with surface having turned against him.

Irish Thistle: Useful hurdler last year, running into some decent sorts without much success, and good start to chasing career when second to Ned Buntline; Little lucky to be left infront of pick up pieces at Navan latest and dropping down in trip not in his favour; Too much on his plate.

Mallowney: Got the better of Ned Buntline on second chasing starts, but that serves mainly as a serious pointer to Mozoltov, who slammed him at Navan the time before; Needs far more to reverse that form here.

Mozoltov: Raced only twice over hurdles (real lover of deep ground) but slammed his maiden hurdle field before getting better of talented chaser Don Cossack at Punchestown and made a very impressive chasing debut when landing odds on SP to dispose of next time out winner Mallowney in fine style; Recent rain sure to prove massive aid for him and can run a big race here.

Ted Veale: Country Hurdle winner who was quickly and well beaten in Cheltenham Grade 2 in debut over fences/for the season; Long way behind at Christmas in Grade 1 and other days for him in handicap ranks.

Trifolium: Looked to be a new horse for a wind operation when making light of absence of nearly a year at Thurles in November, but roasted by Felix Yonger at Navan from two out after going well early, and Defy logic had his number here over Christmas; Hard to imagine that form being reversed.

VERDICT: A cracking contest with three extremely promising all looking to make a big claim for a wide-open Arkle. Felix Yonger looks to be a happier horse at this trip than further but the overnight deluge is the last thing he’d have needed and this could be between empathic Grade 1 winner Defy Logic and the extremely promising MOZLOTOV, with the latter given a vote to strengthen his trainer’s incredibly strong Festival hand.