THE unbeaten chasers Altior and Min, first and second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year are on course for mouth-watering clash in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, which has attracted 33 entries. Altior ran out a convincing seven-length winner over his rival last year.
Willie Mullins, who has captured the last two renewals with Un De Sceaux and Douvan, also has 2016 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle victor Yorkhill, prolific mare Listen Dear and three more Susannah Ricci-owned entries in American Tom, Benie Des Dieux and Royal Caviar among his eight entries. Identity Thief, sixth in last year’s Stan James Champion Hurdle, is one of five entries for fellow Irish handler Henry de Bromhead.
RSA NOVICES’ CHASE
Ante-post favourite Belshill (Willie Mullins) tops 55 entries, the highest level since 2010, for the RSA Novices’ Chase over three miles. A Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season, Bellshill made it two from two over fences with a smooth success over stablemate Haymount in a Grade 2 contest at Limerick at Christmas.
The 26 Irish-trained contenders for the RSA Novices’ Chase also include last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux (Mouse Morris), Grade 1 winner Coney Island (Eddie Harty), Alpha De Obeaux, who will go straight to the festival, Disko, Mall Dini, Martello Tower and Prince Of Scars.
Coney Island impressed when winning the Drinmore Novice Chase over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse in December and lost nothing in defeat when going down by a half-length to Our Duke in the three-mile Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. The JP McManus-owned six-year-old also has an entry in the JLT Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles.
Harty said: “I think distances of the JLT and RSA come alike to him to be honest. He has got the pace for two and a half and I think, in the right circumstances, three miles is not a problem either. I am quite happy to go either way.”
Other high-profile names in the RSA Novices’ Chase include recent Warwick scorer American (Harry Fry) and Might Bite (Nicky Henderson), who fell at the last with the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at his mercy. Our Duke has not been entered in any of the festival novice races.
JLT NOVICES’ CHASE
Yorkhill, as short as 6/4 with some bookmakers, headlines a record 66 entries for the JLT Novices’ Chase. The seven-year-old has won his two chase starts in good style and already boasts winning form at festival, having defeated Yanworth in last season’s Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
There are a record 31 Irish-trained contenders for the JLT Novices’ Chase, with 11 hailing from the stable of Willie Mullins. The Mullins’ entries also include Grade 1-winning hurdler Bleu Et Rouge, who did well to win on his chasing debut at Leoapardstown over Christmas, 2013 Weatherbys Champion Bumper victor Briar Hill, and lightly-raced American Tom.
Nicky Henderson’s nine entries, the most of any British trainer, are headed by Buveur D’Air.
The four-mile J.T. McNamara National Hunt Chase, named in the memory of the former leading amateur rider who passed away in July is proving an excellent pointer to the future.
Last year’s race featured Native River, Vicente, Vieux Lion Rouge, Noble Endevor, Definitly Red and Shantou Flyer, who have landed valuable handicaps.