Arkle Chase: Cerium Heads Betting

Paul Nicholls' Cerium made a good impression on his debut over fences at Warwick when comfortably holding off J P McManus' expensive recruit Garde Champetre and was left unchanged at 8-1 at the head of the market with VC Bet for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham next March. A good fourth at the Festival meeting in the Triumph Hurdle his trainer reckoned he was over the top when disappointing two weeks later at the Aintree Grand National meeting. VC Bet's Neal Wilkins commented "Apart from one mistake in the early stages of the race Cerium jumped wholly adequately for a novice and his chance must be respected particularly bearing in mind that as a four-year-old at present he will receive all the alloawances. We laid him at a big price for the Arkle after his fourth in the Triumph Hurdle and believe he has set a standard for the other novices this winter". Racing Demon Goes to Top of Arkle BettingRacing Demon Impresses Racing Demon jumped to the head of the market for the Arkle Chase with VC Bet after his impressive win over fences at Exeter. Henrietta Knight's five year old comfortably held the challenge of chief market rival Chilling Place and was cut from 12-1 to 8-1 co favourite with VC Bet. "This was a fine display of jumping and on a day that proved so tragic for Henrietta Knight with the loss of stable star Best Mate there could be a rising star in Racing Demon" commented VC Bet's Neal Wilkins. VC Bet Arkle Chase 8 Cerium 8 Accordian Etoile 8 Racing Demon 10 Justified 12 Macs Joy 14 Garde Champetre 14 Wild Passion 14 Don't Be Shy 14 Missed That 16 Hoo La Baloo 20 My Way De Solzen 20 Chilling Place 20 Sea Captain 20 Medison 20 Fleet Street 25 Marcel 25 Villon 25 Only Vintage 25 Kill Devil Hill 25 Cornish Sett 25 In Compliance 25 Mansony 33 Tamarinbleu 33 Genghis 33 Rebel Rhythm 33 Publican Each - Way ¼ 1-2-3 Others On Request