2009 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy

A relatively big field is expected to contest this race and there are quite a few variables going in. First and foremost is the form of I'msingingtheblues who could be a real contender despite the odds of roughly 8/1. Deposit between £10 and £100, make a win single bet and Blue Square will credit your account with a matched FREE BET up to £100!Trained by Paul Nicholls and having formed an excellent relationship with Ruby Walsh, and lately Christian Williams, I'msingingtheblues is looking for a hat-trick of results at the Arkle having won the Williamhill.com Handicap Chase at Doncaster on January 31 and the James Murphy Novices Chase at the same course on December 12. An October victory at Kempton and a final hurdle place to Briareus, also at Kempton, make this a horse who has finished 1,2,1,1 in his last four and he should be looked at for the outright victory over lower-priced Calgary Bay and Tatenen. A victory in the Independent Newspaper Novices Chase shows that Tatenen knows how to win a race at Cheltenham and I'm confident that Tatenen will be on your winning show tickets. However, I'm not backing Calgary Bay for the result, or even the show as I I'm extremely confident that I'msingingtheblues has the edge over Calgary- showcased during their late duel at the James Murphy Novices Chase at Doncaster. Calgary Bay couldn't catch up going into the final quarter of the race and I'm confident that the two Paul Nicholls-trained horses simply have more gas in the tank than Calgary Bay who is underpriced considering his overall record. Verdict: I'msingingtheblues E/W @ 8/1 with Blue Square, Tatenen to show.