The Arkle Trophy is one of the highlights of the opening day of Cheltenham Festival and it looks set to be another highly competitive renewal this year. The classy Medermit is favourite after ten were declared for the 2.05pm race on Tuesday, with Paddy Power offering odds of 11/4 for Medermit to give Alan King a third Arkle winner, while Ghizao, Finian's Rainbow and surprise entry Captain Chris are all well backed.
King has said Medermit is his best chance of a winner at Cheltenham Festival this week after failing to pick up a single win last year, and he will hope to relive better memories of his 2006 and 2007 Arkle wins.
Medermit edged out fellow Arkle hopeful Captain Chris by half a length last time out in the Sicily Novices Chase at Sandown to take his record to three wins from five over fences. Although the favourite does come with a note of caution as he refused at Huntingdon in November and it is well worth noting that only three ante-post favourites have won the last 20 renewals of the Arkle - the last was Azertyuiop in 2003.
Paul Nicholls was the trainer of Azertyuiop and he will be hoping to add another winner this week as be enters the impressive Ghizao. The 7-year-old has earned a reputation as a very good jumper and with a record of two wins and two seconds from four starts at Cheltenham he could be well worth a look at odds of 7/2 with Paddy Power. He has two wins from three over fences, including the Open Meeting at Cheltenham, and with a liking for better ground he could find this week's race very much to his liking.
Nicky Henderson's Finian's Rainbow is also priced 7/2 but the 8-year-old failed to impress in winning at Warwick last time out. Concerns have been raised over his jumping ability and despite recording three from three over fences he has yet to face a field of more than three others in his short chasing career.
Captain Chris has been well backed as PaddyPower.com clipped Philip Hobbs' surprise entry in from 10/1 to an industry best price of 9/1. He won the Pendil Novices Chase last time out and seemed set for the Jewson Novices' Chase, but Hobbs has opted for Tuesday's 2 mile trip and a battle with Medermit and co instead. However, he has come second to Ghizao twice and Medermit once in three of his four chases.
Elsewhere, Realt Dubh leads the Irish charge and can be backed at odds of 8/1 with PaddyPower. Noel Meade's horse could represent a decent each way chance after winning the Irish Arkle last time out and could quash doubts over the standard the 7-year-old has been up against over in Ireland.
Meanwhile, Rock Noir, fourth to Medermit in the Sicily, and Dan Breen, who goes first time blinkered, are each 14/1 chances. Giorgio Quercus, West With The Wind and Stagecoach Pearl complete the field, although they will do well to challenge the likes of Medermit and Ghizao for glory as all of the past 20 Arkle winners have been priced 11/1 or shorter in the ante-post odds.
Arkle Trophy 2011 Tips
Tip #1: Ghizao to win outright @ 7/2 with PaddyPower.com
Tip #2: Realt Dubh each way @ 8/1 with PaddyPower.com
11/4 Medermit
7/2 Ghizao
7/2 Finian's Rainbow
8/1 Realt Dubh
9/1 Captain Chris*
14/1 Rock Noir
14/1 Dan Breen
25/1 Giorgio Quercus*
33/1 West With The Wind
50/1 Stagecoach Pearl*
*Denotes Industry Best Price. Odds provided by PaddyPower.com, who will be operating a variety of betting markets, including in-running betting, for all 27 races at Cheltenham Festival 2011.
Posted: Monday, 14th March 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: cheltenham festival, arkle trophy, ghizao, medermit, paddypower,
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