Realt Dubh Tops Arkle Novice Chase Antepost Market

The main focus for the next week or so is likely to be the rescheduled Christmas fixtures unfolding at Kempton, but it’s important to remember that we’ve got a high-quality Grade 1 novice chase on the horizon with the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on the 23rd of January.

At the moment, Noel Meade’s Realt Dubh is the betting favourite at a 3/1 price based on the back of his 10/1 score in the Bord na Mona With Nature Novice’s Chase over course and distance. The seven year-old gelding has had a very sharp campaign this year with just a single fall at Galway in October marring a record that has gone 1121 otherwise.

Mikael D’Haguenet was sent off as the betting favourite in the Bord na Mona but an error mid-way through the race really unsettled Willy Mullins charge and a disappointing fifth place was the best effort he could muster. That compounded a disappointing falling effort at Fairyhouse a few weeks previous and connections will be hoping that this seven year-old son of Lavirco will be able to turn things around here and run to potential. He is priced around 7/2 at the moment.

Quel Esprit comes in fresh, having not run since mid-November but we’ll be staying off of him at 7/2 as he has never scored at Grade 1 level and will need a dramatic step up to pull off a result against this type of field. A much better outside selection is Noble Prince, who finished second to Realt Dubh in the Bord na Mona. He came on gamely with Barry Geraghty aboard for the first time. He’s more than worth keeping an eye on at a 7/1 price and he could be poised to capitalize on any errors from the betting favourite.

Torphichen represents Eoin O’Grady’s yard and he looks to be progressing really nicely with AJ McNamara. You’ll find him priced around 10/1 and he could be ready to make a move as he’s not finished off the board yet this season.