Arkle Challenge Trophy

Cheltenham Arkle Challenge Trophy 2012 - Sacre storms to Arkle Victory

Sprinter Sacre produced another scintillating performance to lift the 2012 Arkle Challenge Trophy and cement his place as one of the leading lights of the Cheltenham Festival with a spectacular round of jumping.

Stalking Cue Card from an early stage, Barry Geraghty went alongsides Al Ferfo towards the end of the back straight and when Paul Nicholls' raider made an awful mistake at the open ditch, Geraghty elected to send his mount to the front.

He duly pulled clear of Cue Card turning for home and Nicky Henderson's speedster merely pinged the last two fences and when shaken up by his classy rider quickened again to win by seven lengths with a gutsy Cue Card in third and Menorah completing the top three, but it was all about the 8/11 favourite.

1405 - Arkle Challenge Trophy Result
1. Sprinter Sacre (B Geraghty) 8/11 Fav
2. Cue Card (J Tizzard) 13/2
3. Menorah (R Johnson)10/1
6 Ran

2012 Arkle Preview

Sprinter Sacre will head into the 2012 Arkle Challenge Trophy as a short-priced favourite for the 2m novice crown, as he looks to continue his domination of the division and cement his place as one of the most exciting first season chasers the game has seen in recent years.

After an impressive debut at Doncaster, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding then enhanced his reputation with a sublime demolition of Peddlers Cross in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton Park over Christmas to propel himself to the head of the Arkle betting.

A facile success in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury just cemented his place as the leading candidate for the 2012 Arkle on March 13 and he will head into the contest as the one to beat.

With Peddlers Cross now swaying this contest in favour of the Jewson Novices' Chase, Al Ferof is sitting second in the betting, as he looks to frank the form of last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, where he comfortably beat Sprinter Sacre.

He too has some glowing form over the larger obstacles this season and even though he was outclassed in the Victor Chandler Chase will relish a return to novice company and with proven Cheltenham form will be a major contender for the title.

Cue Card is another with winning form at Prestbury Park and on his day can be spectacular and if the front two in the market fail to fire then will be ready to pounce, whilst Philip Hobbs' Menorah is another major player and if he can improve his jumping should be another in the mix in the closing stages.

Willie Mullins' Blackstairmountain spearheads the Irish challenge and he will love the quicker ground likely to be offer on March 13. whilst Foildubh completes the line-up.

Money Back Special

If Sprinter Sacre wins the Arkle Challenge Trophy, Paddy Power will refund all losing single stakes on other runners in the race.

Arkle Challenge Trophy Tips

Find out Our Tip for the 2012 Arkle Challenge Trophy.

Arkle Challenge Trophy

The Arkle Challenge Trophy, formerly known as the Cotswold Chase, was renamed in honour of the great steeplechaser, Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in the 1960’s. Arkle Champion Chase History.

It is a Grade 1 National Hunt Novice Chase for five-year-olds and above and is run over a distance of 2 miles and over 12 fences on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse. It takes place on the first day of the famous Cheltenham Festival.

In terms of popularity at the Festival it ranks fourth, behind, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase but it remains one of the most populat with punters.

The race is particularly noted for its history of procucing winners who go on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following year. Flagship Uberalles, Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Voy Por Ustedes are just four of these. See Arkle Trophy past winners. The race seems to be one specifically targeted by specialist Cheltenham and Arkle Trophy trainers, who see the race as the biggest test for their novice jumpers.

Betting - Arkle Trophy Champion Chase 2012

As you may know, the Arkle Trophy Chase is a popular betting market and millions are backed each year on the race. The attraction lies in the fact that it usually goes to form so the favorites in the Arkle Champion Chase odds are always the ones to look at first. See our Arkle Trophy Champion Chase tips as well to check out the form of this years runners and some of the statistics associated with the race. We also have the distinct advantage of providing you with an Arkle Trophy Chase Free bet facility with a variety of bookmakers. The offers are excellent this year and there is an even bigger choice.

Arkle Chase Runners 2012

Sprinter Sacre has been simply stunning this season with three mouthwatering victories during the season with his demolition of Peddlers Cross the obvious highlight and he will be at the forefront of the Arkle runners to watch out for.

Al Ferof is another notable contender who has also made a smooth transition to the chasing game and will be a major danger to the favourite, whilst Cue Card and Menorah are just another brace of classy runners heading to the 2m start on March 13.

Check out more possible 2012 Runners, who could be in with a shout of lifting the Arkle trophy on March 13