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Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase: Past Winners, Stats & History

Cheltenham Festival
Course:
Cheltenham
Old Course
Grade:
Grade 1
Length:
2m
Last Winner:
Edwardstone @ 5/2
Prize Money:
£182,125 (2022)

Race two at the Cheltenham Festival sees the chasers take to the track in the Arkle Novices’ Chase, or the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase to give its full name.

This race is named after one of the greatest of all time, Arkle, who is the highest rated chaser in history. Arkle won 27 races in a five year career at a strike rate of 77%. His victories included three Cheltenham Gold Cups, a King George VI Chase and victory in the 1964 Irish Grand National.

The Arkle Chase has amassed a spectacular roll of honour over the years including Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre and Altior, but who will come out on top in the next renewal?

Arkle Chase Course Map (Old Course)

Cheltenham Old Course Map

Arkle Chase Past Winners

Year Winner SP Trainer Jockey
2022 Edwardstone 5/2 Alan King Tom Cannon
2021 Shishkin 4/9 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
2020 Put The Kettle On 16/1 Henry De Bromhead Aidan Coleman
2019 Duc Des Genievres 5/1 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2018 Footpad 5/6 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2017 Altior 1/4 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
2016 Douvan 1/4 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2015 Un De Sceaux 4/6 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2014 Western Horse 33/1 David Pipe Tom Scudamore
2013 Simonsig 8/15 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
2012 Sprinter Sacre 8/11 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
2011 Captain Chris 6/1 Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson
2010 Sizing Europe 6/1 Hnery de Bromhead Andrew Lynch
2009 Forpadydeplasterer 8/1 Tom Cooper Barry Geraghty
2008 Tidal Bay 6/1 Howard Johnson Denis O'Regan
2007 My Way de Solzen 7/2 Alan King Robert Thornton
2006 Voy Por Ustedes 15/2 Alan King Robert Thornton
2005 Contraband 7/1 Martin Pipe Timmy Murphy
2004 Well Chief 9/1 Martin Pipe Tony McCoy
2003 Azertyuiop 5/4 Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh

About the Arkle Challenge Trophy: A Stepping Stone for Potential Greats

Chestnut Racehorse

The Cheltenham Festival has been littered with brilliant horses, jockeys and trainers over the years. When it comes to stars of the four legged variety though, few stand out quite as much as three-time Gold Cup winner, Arkle, a horse whose fame reaches well beyond racing’s inner circles.

The Irish legend is such an important part of Cheltenham’s history (and indeed racing’s history) that the powers that be decided to name a race at the Festival after him. The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a steeplechase for novices which is run over a distance just shy of two miles. The race was introduced in 1969 as a direct replacement for the Cotswold Chase, so records of the two races are often treated as one.

It’s a Grade 1 which is so highly regarded by owners and trainers that most will plan the seasons of their leading minimum distance novice chasers around the Arkle. That’s not only because of a first prize that passed the £100,000 mark in 2019. Connections know that the Arkle has played an important role in the careers of horses who go on to win even bigger races.

The Future Champion Chasers?

The most obvious route for the leading contenders in the Arkle to follow leads to the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The likes of Put The Kettle On, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Voy Por Ustedes all won the Champion Chase the year after their success in the Arkle. Other winners have taken very different routes though.

Dual Arkle & Champion Chase Winners: 1999 – 2021

Horse Trainer Arkle Win Champion Chase Win(s)
Put The Kettle On Henry de Bromhead 2020 2021
Altior Nicky Henderson 2017 2018, 2019
Sprinter Sacre Nicky Henderson 2012 2013, 2016
Sizing Europe Henry de Bromhead 2010 2011
Voy Por Ustedes Alan King 2006 2007
Azertyuiop Paul Nicholls 2003 2004
Moscow Flyer Jessica Harrington 2002 2003, 2005
Flagship Uberalles Paul Nicholls 1999 2002

As a top class novices chase, the Arkle does tend to be won by younger horses, many of whom are versatile. That’s why we’ve seen previous Arkle victors go on to win longer distance races, although it’s unlikely that Alverton’s feat of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup the year after winning the Arkle in 1978 will ever be repeated.

How to Pick an Arkle King

When it comes to picking a potential winner of the Arkle Challenge Trophy the number one thing to focus on is the ability to jump well at speed. The fast pace that this race is always run at has caught out many promising horses before even if the market is usually a good guide. Winning favourites are increasingly common as bookies and punters alike know a top class horse long before they reach Cheltenham in their novice chasing campaign.

Chart Showing the Finishing Positions of the Favourites or Joint Favourite in the Arkle Chase Between 1989 and 2022

That said, the lack of returning winners and question marks about horses this early into their chasing careers does often make the betting competitive. If it does look a particularly difficult renewal of the Arkle then it’s well worth taking the trainer into account.

Achieving back to back wins requires an excellent display of training so the likes of Willie Mullins and Alan King should be considered if they have a classy entry. Of course, we shouldn’t forget anything sent to post by Nicky Henderson either. The most successful trainer in the history of the Arkle Challenge Trophy, Henderson has saddled the winner an impressive seven times (as of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival).

Other Races of Note at Cheltenham

  • Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
  • Arkle Chase
  • Arkle Trial Novices' Chase
  • Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
  • Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
  • Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
  • Champion Bumper
  • Champion Hurdle
  • Cheltenham Gold Cup
  • Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
  • Cotswold Chase
  • December Gold Cup
  • Festival Hunters' Chase
  • Greatwood Hurdle
  • International Hurdle
  • November Handicap Chase
  • Paddy Power Gold Cup
  • Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle
  • Queen Mother Champion Chase
  • Ryanair Chase
  • Shloer Chase
  • Stayers’ Hurdle
  • Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
  • Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle
  • Triumph Hurdle
  • Triumph Hurdle Trial
  • Turners Novices’ Chase

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