Cheltenham Preview Arkle Chase Pt 1

The second contest on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Arkle Chase and this one always pits the real up-and-coming chasers up against other - though it can be a tricky ante post wager to make because, oftentimes, the bulk of the quality horses are also pointed at other races. It’s definitely worth keeping your eye on the other entries boasted by the horses you are watching ahead of the Arkle. 

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While many of the big races at Cheltenham this year seem to be lacking the genuine stand-out bankers that have permeated some of the festivals we’ve seen recently, you get the feeling that a gamble may develop here on Champagne Fever or one of his higher-rated challengers for this 2m chase. 

Many of us will remember Champagne Fever for his triumph at Cheltenham in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle when he got the better of My Tent Or Yours by half a length. He then went on to come third in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. 

He was able to kick off his campaign with a workmanlike four-length victory at Punchestown in a 6k Beginners Chase before coming up short at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase. He was a full fourteen lengths behind Defy Logic despite going off as the heavy 8/15 favourite. You get the feeling that this was supposed to be a real coronation for his festival credentials and that’s why he’s hovering around 4/1 with most major bookmakers right now. Champagne Fever needs to prove that he can hang tough with Grade 1 company over proper fences and he able to keep some of that speed he’s flexed in his hurdles races. 

Dodging Bullets looks to be the most significant challenger to his claims and punters will find his ante post prices floating around 6/1 to 8/1 depending on whom you’re betting with. He boasts an undefeated record this year and looked good in each of those three victories. He appears to enjoy chasing more than he did campaigning over hurdles last year as he’s captured all three efforts - the first one a beginners contest at Kempton and then a pair of Grade 2 chases - one at Kempton and the other over this same course at Cheltenham.