Sporting Life Arkle Chase

The 8 yr old Stat - Edwardstone, Sizing Europe 2010 and Moscow Flyer 2002 only winners for those aged 8 yrs since Commandante ’90. All three rated in the high 150s when running in this and had already won a Grade 1 2m novice chase. By coincidence, all those wins were in December.

Edwardstone the only eight year old runner last year. None tried in 2021. 2020 four in the 11 strong field, Global Citizen 33s best in 4th, the other three didn't finish. Articulum 25/1 placed as a nine year old in 2019. None of this age tried '18 or '17. Then we have to go back to 2011 Finians Rainbow 2nd, '10 Osana 3rd, Kalahari King 2nd in '09. There has been no 9 year old winner since Danish Flight '88. One of the best known Cheltenham stats. Will pass someday, but when? WPM gives up a chance with Appreciate It?

Last year the 1-2-3 was aged 8-7-7, 2021 it was 7-7-6, 2020 it was 6-5-6 yrs, In 2019 Duc De Genievres from Us and Them both 6 yr olds. 2018 Footpad was a 6 yr old.

To summarise, the last twelve winners - 6 yr olds lead 7 yr olds, Six - Five. And Edwardstone.

5 yr olds - Do well with smaller numbers but allowance stopped after '08. No 5 yr old winner since Voy Por Ustedes '08. No 5 yr olds ran in 6 of the last 10 years. Best finisher of three last year Riviere d'Etel in 5th. 2021 Allmankind 5/1 beat one home. Fakir D'Oudaries a fine second 2020. Saint Calvados went off too quick in 2018. None ran in the previous two years, 0-16 since 2007. Fil Dor, Il Est Francais.

PRICE - Favorites - Edwardstone at 5/2 continues the favs roll. I must stop laying these Arkle favs. Shishkin at 4/9 for Odds On followers. Notebook and Hardline couldn't continue the Arkle Odds On winning run after Footpad 5/6, Altior 1/4, Douvan 1/4 following Un De Sceaux 4/6. Before that Simonsig 2013 and Sprinter Sacre 2012. Currently by far the best current Festival race for favourites. Jonbon

Before 2012 we have to go back to Azertyuiop ’03, Klairon Davis ’95, Remittance Man ’91. Those all short priced and turned over - Notebook (5/2), Champagne Fever (11/4), Medermit (11/4), Captain Cee Bee (5/2), Noland, War of Attrition, Sybillin, Mulligan, Decoupage and Seebald. With small fields and the JLT you might expect more favourites to win. No more than 11 runners each year in this since JLT introduction. 11 last year, 5 in 2021, 11 ran in 2020. Sybillin 4/5 in 1993 was the previous odds on before Sprinter Sacre 2012 and the last one to get beat. (Just love this stuff sometimes). Seven odds on shots in the past 11 and they all won.

Put The Kettle on joins Western Warhorse 33s 2014 first winners to be priced over 11/1 since Waterloo Boy 20s in '89. Gabynako 25s (RIP) Eldorado Allen 33s, Articulum 25s, Ordinary World 25s joined Gods Own and Baily Green (both 2nd at 33s) first since Ashley Brook '05 to be placed at 20/1 plus. 13 horses 20/1 and over have been placed in past 27 races. Seems about right odds wise.

Put The Kettle On is the only winner in 28 not to be favourite or second favourite on their previous run. Was the 6/1 outsider of four when winning the Cheltenham Arkle Trial.

Since the turn of the century 27 last time out beaten favourites have run. One winner Tidal Bay 6/1. Had been beaten 1/2 length on previous run at Doncaster at 1/4 but had won 3 novice chases that season. Two last year, best Riviere D'Etel in 5th. None ran previous two years. 2019's qualifiers Kalasnikov BD, Lalor PU.

TRAINERS 

Irish trained - 10 of the last 27 including five of the last eight with The Kettle, Duc de Genievres, Footpad, Douvan, Un De Sceaux. Henry broke W Mullins' run. Sizing Europe '10, Forpadytheplasterer '09, Moscow Flyer ’03 and 13 others placed out of 82 runners over the past 21 years. Seven from the 11 last year were from the Emerald Isle resulting in Gabynako 2nd and Blue Lord 3rd. Captain Guinness no better than 3rd of 5 runners 2021, a 1-2 in 2020 from 4 runners, 2019 an Irish 1-2-3 from 5 runners. (Sizing John, Champagne Fever both 2nd, Ordinary World 3rd, Trifolium 3rd 2014. Last 12 winners of Irish Arkle to turn up finished 311211116163 in this. Energumeme a late and disappointing NR 2020. Notebook and Some Plan each finishing 6th spoils that a bit. Irish winners of this had finished placed 31121111 in the December Leopardstown 2 mile novice. Saint Roi Franco De Port finished last at Cheltenham. Min won it in 2017, Douvan won 2016. Winners of this who had run in the Irish Arkle finished 111U1FF211 in Ireland. El Fabiolo, Banbridge, Saint Roi.

The last horse to win the Arkle after falling last time out was Moscow Flyer. Saint Roi

N. Henderson - Seven wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 23 runners in past 29 races. Had no runner last year or in 2020 and 2019, Brain Power 14s second in 2018. 2016 Vaniteux may have finished second before UR two out. Before Shishkin, Altior, Simonsig and Sprinter Sacre his last winner was Tuitchev in 2000. He has run nine horses in this who had a hurdle rating in excess of 145. Five won, three finished second and Vaniteux. Jonbon

Henry de Bromhead - Beginning to have some ammunition for this race. Won it with Sizing Europe in 2010, then a gap of four years with no entries. Has run 10 in the last seven, Captain Guinness 3rd, Put The Kettle On wins, Sizing John 2nd, Ordinary World 3rd.

JP McManus has only had seven runners this century, Fakir D'Oudaries (2nd) first since Tap Night 2013, and the first placed since Foreman in 2006. Jonbon, Saint Roi

M/D. Pipe - 5 wins, 2 seconds and a third from 15 runners in past 21. Nothing placed for 7 years and then along comes Western Warhorse in 2014. D Pipe immediately admitted that he had spent the previous two weeks trying to persuade the owner, Roger Brookhouse, not to run him. No runners last seven years and I don't see any in 2023. Well Chief (star) and the Warhorse only had one chase run. Winners back to '94 at least two chase runs.

Mullins/Henderson have won eight of the last eleven between them. Would have been nine without the Warhorse.

P. Nicholls - In last 21 renewals has had 20 runners. Two winners, four thirds. However since Azer '03 only three thirds from 15 runners. (No runners last six years, Vibrato Valtat 4th in 2014 after trying to take the favourite on. Dodging Bullets unpl 2014. No runner 2013, Al Ferof unpl 2012). 12 of his last 13 finished unplaced. Monmiral nr

A. King - has only ever had 7 runners in this. Jahash in ’04 was 4^th at 150/1, Kadount ’05 was travelling well when UR four out and then he won it twice with Voy Por Ustedes and My Way De Solzen. 2011 Medermit his first runner for 4 years and favourite, only 4th. Last runner before Edwardstone was Valdez 4th 2014. No goat's toe, is Mr King.

Northern based - Cloudy Dream 12s ran in 2017 to finish 2nd for Malcolm Jefferson. Kahahari King 2nd '09, Tidal Bay won '08 and Monets Garden’s 2^nd to Voy ’06 improves their performance from the previous decade. Overturn well beaten at 7/2 in 2013. No triers 2015, '16 or in any of the last five years.

FORM - The last 13 winners won last time out. Going back to Forpadydeplaster in '09. Only Contraband (3^rd) and Moscow Flyer (F) of the last 30 winners did not finish 1^st or 2^nd in their previous race. Of those 30 only Moscow, Ventana Canyon and Un De Sceaux had actually fallen that season. Moscow had fallen twice. Ventana Canyon started chasing career in the same 2m 2f Thurles Beginners as Un De Sceaux. Glengouly. Duc De Genievres is the only winner since Contraband '05 not to have finished in the first 2 on any completed chase start that season in GB or Ire. But then when did Willie Mullins ever worry about stats. Western Warhorse had won his only chase.

18 of the last 21 had won at least a G2 that season. Not the Duc, Western Warhorse, nor Well Chief.

BHA RATINGS - 11 of last 20 had rating of 156 plus and were the top-rated hurdler. Edwardstone's hurdle rating of 150 the same as Coeur Sublime. Global Citizen top rated hurdler 2020 off 156. Shishkin 164 Kettle chase rating 144. Altior was given a rating of 170 after winning the Game Spirit before this.

Those rated 160+ are 7 from 14 since 2012.

Brain Power and Petit Mouchoir both had 3 lbs in hand over Footpad over hurdles according to the handicapper. 2013 Simonsig second top-rated hurdler, 2012 Sprinter Sacre lowest hurdle rating 145 of first 4 home.

19 of last 22 rated at least 142 over hurdles. Duc de Genievres 146, Altior, Douvan 160+ Un De Sceaux at least 156. Footpad 157 (Put The Kettle On only 123, Western Warhorse was 125, Voy Por Ustedes not officially rated but likely to not have been much over 120 - the latter two were unbeaten over fences). Henry de Bromhead knows his stats. When questioned about this before Put The Kettle On won, 'aah sure, wasn't Special Tiara only a hurdler off 116.' Jonbon currently 159 over fences, 152 hurdle rating.

11 of last 16 winners had won a Pattern race over hurdles (not the Kettle, the Duc, Captain Chris, Sprinter Sacre nor Western Warhorse). Five of the last 19 spent more than one season over hurdles.

17 of the last 22 had won a Grade 1 or Grade 2 over fences. 6 of the past 10 had won at least to Grade 2 level over both hurdles and fences. Not Edwardstone.

Racing Post Ratings - In the last 21 renewals, 18 horses came with a recent hurdle RPR of 160+. 10 won, four others placed. Shishkin and Footpad RPR 162 in previous season. None this year. Jonbon only 155 for beating El Fabiolo at Aintree. I'm not a big fan of RPRs, just somebody else's and another opinion?

25 from last 31 had won at least 50% of their completed chase starts. Duc De Genievres broke this stat run which had gone back to Captain Chris 2011. He had only one win from 4 runs. 28 of last 35 had won at least twice over fences. (Again the Duc broke this, only one win, three other exceptions were trained by M/D Pipe, Forpadytheplasterer had been 2nd in three Grade 1 chases). Put The Kettle On, Un De Sceaux and Azertyuiop only winners since Anaglogs Daughter in 1980 to make most of the running. Douvan led from the 3rd when Ruby got bored. Footpad 2018 picked up the pieces as Davy Russell and Aiden Coleman both blew their chances by setting a ridiculous pace.

Well Chief the only winner this century with only one chase run.

Last 26 no more than 6 runs over fences. Only Western Warhorse of the last 22 wore blinkers. And that was first time. 29 of last 31 winners had at least 7 runs over hurdles/fences. Edwardstone had 15 such runs. Not Western Warhorse (5). He also became the 5th winner since 1987 to have had less than 3 chase runs. Shishkin and Footpad had won 3 chases, Edwardstone, Altior and Put The Kettle On had won 4 chases each.

11 from last 16 had won over 2m 4f. Not Edwardstone, only 3rd the season before in an Aintree h'cap. Shiskin the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon, Put The Kettle On three times over that trip, The Duc at Gowran, Footpad at Auteuil. Altior had beaten Black Corton 63 lengths in a match but over just 2m 2f. Not Forpady, only also had won over just 2m 2f. Nor Sprinter Sacre, only 2nd in an 2m 4f novice hurdle. Not Douvan, only 2m 1f.

Only 15 from last 22 had won a Chase by Tingle Creek Day (7th December). Not the Duc, Captain Chris, Well Chief or any of the four before Douvan. Won a beginners chase at Navan on 22nd November. Un De Sceaux would have won but fell at 1/8 in that Thurles Beginners. Not particularly relevant, methinks, but its here..

It has never happened that the winners of all the Supreme, Ballymore and Albert Bartlett have come back the next year and won the Arkle, Turners and Brown Advisory Chases. Not this year, either.

SUPREME NOVICE/ARKLE DOUBLE - Becoming fashionable. Shishkin, Altior and Douvan first since Flyingbolt in 1965 to do a Supreme-Arkle double. And Flyingbolt was rated 210. Seven others have tried. Un De Sceaux didn't come via the hurdle route because they already had Vautour. Other recent triers Al Ferof 3/1 2012 and Champagne Fever 11/4 jt fav 2014 caught on the line by Western Warhorse. To credit Ruby, he went on RUK later that year explaining in detail why and when he should have kicked on a bit earlier that day. Simonsig had strolled a Neptune. Sprinter Sacre 3rd in Supreme Novice before winning here. He had finished behind Al Ferof in the hurdle, Somersby 3rd in Supreme Novices before 2nd here 2010, Kalahari King 4th in Supreme Novice '08 before 2nd here '09. Noland won Supreme '06, 3rd here '08, Wild Passion 2nd Supreme '05, 4th here in '06. Medermit 2nd Supreme Novice '09 before failing here. Constitution Hill has other business to attend to. Jonbon, Dysart Dynamo.

Shishkin became the first to do the double with the Lightning Chase winner at Doncaster late January. Since 2010 only 4 have attempted it, the shortest price and probably best other performance here was Vaniteux 8/1, fell two out when still pitching. Tommys Oscar nr

COURSE FORM - Only Un De Sceaux and Voy Por of the last 18 winners had never run here before. Western Warhorse had been 2nd in a Cl3 hurdle off 125. The other 15 had 'good' course form. Definition as follows. Either a course winner or 'decent' run at a previous festival. Stat stretched to include Edwardstone, 5th in the 2020 County, the Duc, 5th beaten 9l behind Samcro in the Ballymore, Forpadytheplasterer had finished 4th in another 'Ballymore'. The other 13 had also either won at least a G3 here or been placed in G2 or G1. Shishkin and Altior both won Supremes. Footpad has been 3rd in a Triumph and 4th in a Champion Hurdle. Put The Kettle On won the November G2 Arkle Trial. Jonbon, Dysart Dynamo.

14 of last 19 ran at last year's Festival. Edwardstone 5th in the County.

Boreen Prince 1985 last runner up in Champion Hurdle to win this the following year. Overturn failed in 2013. Melon went elsewhere. Not relevant this season

Apart from The Kettle and Sizing Europe all winners since 1966 had had a run since Jan 1st.

STARTED ON THE FLAT - 0 from 29 since Contraband 2005. Only one to try in last five was Allmankind 5/1 4th of five 2021.

Kingmaker (Warwick, Feb 15th) prep race with best current record. Winner of that has finished 0123U126341 in this. Edwardstone won both. Allmankind 4th Rouge Vif 3rd 2020. No Scilly Isles winner has doubled up in last 20. L'Homme Presse elsewhere. 2020 Sporting John couldn't jump. Itchy Feet and Defi De Seuil went to the Marsh Chase. Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton December won by Edwardstone, Shishkin, Remittance Man, Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig. Jonbon

TIMES - This race is usually run in a time under 4 minutes 3 secs. Edwardstone 3 51 in G to S. Shiskin did 3 53 in sotf ground. Kettle - 4 mins 8 secs proving 2m 4f stamina very important. 2019 Duc de Genievres 3 mins 59, 2018 Footpad 4 mins 2 in heavy going, Altior 3.55 Douvan 3.49, Un De Sceaux 3.51, 2014 3mins 47 2013 Simonsig did 4 mins 2 (in soft ground).

15 of last 24 winners had already won a chase in a time under 4 minutes 1 second or had posted a time under 4 minutes in at least a Grade 2 Hurdle. Not the Kettle nor the Duc. The latter had only won a chase over 2m 4f. (Edwardstone 3 59 Warwick, Shiskin 3 55 in a Wayward Lad, Footpad 3 45 Irish Champion Hurdle, Altior 3 46, Douvan 3 48 in respective Supremes). Altior 3.54 in a Wayward Lad jog. Exceptions include Western Warhorse, Or Royal and Tuitchev who all had yet to contest a 2-mile chase although the latter had been 6^th in the previous years Champion Hurdle. Also Tidal Bay who had posted a time of 4mins 6 over 2m ½ furlong when 2nd at Doncaster, Captain Chris, a course hurdle winner and G2 Pendil winner last time out and finally Simonsig, a Festival G1 winner.

2020 contenders best times.

Wayward Lad Kempton - Boothill 3 53. Soft

Lightning Chase Doncaster - Tommy's Oscar 3 59 Good

2m Cheltenham November - Banbridge 3 54 Good

Irish Arkle - 2m 1f - El Fabiolo 4 08 Yielding

Leopardstown Christmas 2 mile 1f Saint Roi 4 18 yielding

Kingmaker Warwick - Jonbon 3 52 Good

Some Plan 4 mins 6 secs for Irish Arkle 2017 and then stuffed in this. Although he finished alone it was 'probably the fastest run Irish Arkle in many years' said Davy Russell.

BREEDING - 12 of the last 28 winners were French bred from about 25% of runners. 6 from 11 last year, mind you. Including all of Willie's last four winners. 16 weren't including Edwardstone and Shishkin. However a French bred has been placed at least in 17 of last 22, including the placed horses last year, 2021 Eldorado. Four from a field of 11 2020, best 2nd and 3rd. 2019 Duc De Genievres was the only French Bred in the field. Footpad FRE. Douvan was bred in France but is by Walk In The Park, an Irish sire. (The sire of Min, as well). Altiorwasis Irish bred by High Chapparal. El Fabiolo, Jonbon, Saint Roi.

Only 13 German breds have run. Well Chief hacked home, two seconds and a third. Notebook and Lalor didn't help the cause.

Put The Kettle On retired the MARES stat. Kruguyrova '08 only placed mare of ten to run in the past 20 years. Previous mare to win obviously Anaglog’s Daughter ‘80. Two unplaced in 2022. Still 7lb allowance.

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