2010 ARKLE CHASE AT CHELTENHAM TIPS AND LATEST ODDS

One of the biggest races of the opening day at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival is the Arkle Chase and we expect an absolutely cracking 2 mile battle over fences. In my opinion, we have three very strong favourites here who should be able to get the job done barring any mistakes and we also have a handful of potential upsets here too that may make a very big statement for their yards on opening day.

Forpadydeplasterer really made a name for himself by winning the Arkle last year and I suspect that a number of punters will be looking for a longer-odds winner this time out.
Captain Cee Bee is a real fan-favourite and I expect him to be very well-backed come post time for the Arkle. He boasts a near perfect season with only a fall on the last hurdle in a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown being the only stroke against him this season. He scored against a talented field of 18 in a Beginners Chase at Naas in early December and then took another one against a field of 5 in early February. He looks in cracking form and also beat out Binocular two years ago in the Supreme Novices. He’s got victories over the surface and victories against the type of competition he’ll be lining up against. I think if you’re going to back him, it’s probably worth doing now as I expect punters to pile on shortly before the off.
Captain Cee Bee is a genuine favourite for the 2010 Arkle and you’ll find him trading at either 3/1 or 10/3 at the moment with virtually all major bookmakers. There is enough distance between him and the other challengers to consider him a solid contender.
Somersby is a really interesting story and the six year-old bay gelding brings two from two into this race. He scored against two limited fields at Warwick and Sandown and the latter of which was a Grade 2 victory with McCoy aboard. He is an up-and-coming jumper who is relatively lightly-raced, both career-wise and this season specifically. I like him at his 11/2 price, but he needs to improve to win this one. I would take him on an each-way at 8/1.
Sizing Europe is the main danger, in my book, and the classy 8 year-old brings undefeated form into this race. My only qualm is that he has only beaten limited fields with relatively mediocre opposition. He was sent off as the even-money favourite over Captain Cee Bee who was trading at 5/1 in the Grade 1 Board Na Mona With Nature Novices Chase. Cee Bee fell in that one, but really had every chance and likely would have taken it. I think that’s why you’ll find Sizing Europe at the price he’s trading at- if it wasn’t for a mistake, he would likely have come 2nd. He is decently-priced at 13/2, and could be the one to beat here if Cee Bee makes any mistakes.
The potential upsets are definitely out there in this field and the big one, for me, is Paul Nicholls’ Tataniano- a 6 year-old who took a Grade 2 at Cheltenham back in mid-November with Ruby Walsh aboard. Nicholls always gets his jumpers raring to go for the Festival and, without an odds-on favourite, we could see this one go to a higher-priced selection. He’s worth a look for sure and trades at a solid 16/1 and could trend higher. At 20/1 I think he’s a great each-way tip.
If you’re looking for a true outsider here, why not have a look at Ferdy Murphy’s Bedlam Boy- a 9 year-old novice who brings in form of 1121 to this contest. He’s a very lengthy 40/1 if he actually runs and he could be a very big surprise. He’s definitely worth a look if you can find a site that is offering up non-runner money-back.
I don’t generally go out of my way to back favourites, but I really do like Captain Cee Bee. I think Tataniano is probably the best outside tip, while Sizing Europe will be looking to play the spoiler.