ARKLE NOVICES CHASE

MORE than half the 31 entries for the Racing Post Arkle Novices’Chase on the opening day of the festival are trained in Ireland.

Tuesday’s Gowran winner Cilaos Emery jumped to the head of the market after his impressive chasing debut, while Articulum, Le Richebourg, Mengli Khan, Paloma Blue and the Thurles winner Camelia De Cotte should give Irish runners a great chance in a race that we have won in three of the last four years.

Grade 1 winner Dynamite Dollars, Kalashnikov and Lalor headline the British entries. Lalor impressed at the November meeting when making a winning debut over fences and Kalashnikov has been a leading contender for the race since finishing second in last season’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He won as he pleased on his first two chase starts at Warwick and Plumpton this season before finishing a length and a quarter behind Dynamite Dollars at Kempton Park on December 27th. He runs today at Doncaster.

IRISH RUNNERS

The 18 Irish-trained contenders are headed by Le Richebourg, who led home a one-two for trainer Joseph O’Brien when defeating Us And Them by four and a half lengths in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

The Terence O’Brien-trained Articulum impressed at Naas early this month and along with Paloma Blue adds to the Irish strong hand.

Henry de Bromhead is also represented by Mind’s Eye, High School Days and Ornua who ran well at Sandown in the Grade 1 Henry VI Chase.

Willie Mullins entries also include Duke De Genevres, Pravalguna, Real Steel and Voix Du Reve.

Lostintranslation leads JLT field

JLT NOVICES CHASE

ANTE-post favourite Lostintranslation is one of 52 entries for the JLT Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles on the festival Thursday.

The seven-year-old has topped the betting since defeating Defi Du Seuil by a length and a quarter in the BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase over course and distance on New Year’s Day.

Trainer Colin Tizzard said: “Lostintranslation came out of Cheltenham very well. He is a big-framed horse that is learning all the time.

“He is improving with every race and is going to keep improving over time.

“He will step up in trip next year, but he won’t this year. Robbie Power is adamant that two and a half miles is a good trip for him at the moment.

“The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase is an option. He doesn’t have to run, but he is a novice chaser and some more experience could be beneficial.”

Gigginstown House Stud-owned Delta Work looks the pick of the Irish-trained entries, having bookended December with Grade 1 victories in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse and Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Winter Escape is another of the 29 Irish-trained contenders who also include Articulum, Le Richebourg, Mengli Khan, Paloma Blue and Camelia De Cotte.

The Aidan Howard-trained eight-year-old, Winter Escape, has won three of his four starts this season, and last time out gave weight and a beating to A Plus Tard in a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown on January 13th.

The mare La Bague Au Roi is unbeaten in three starts over fences and was last seen out when winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

She is likely to line up at the Dublin Racing Festival and holds entries in the JLT Novices’ Chase and the RSA Novices’ Chase over three miles.

Kim Bailey’s exciting novice Vinndication is also entered here as well as in the RSA Chase.

Santini tops RSA Chase entries

RSA CHASE

THE 48 entries for the RSA Novices’ Chase are headed by the exciting Nicky Henderson-trained Santini, many people’s idea of the winner after he won the Grade 1 three-mile hurdle at Aintree last year.

The entries also include Topofthegame who was second with Santini third behind La Bague Au Roi in the Grade 1 at Kempton Park at Christmas.

Gigginstown House are responsible for seven entries headed by Grade 1 winners Delta Work and Hardline and last year’s festival winner Blow By Blow.

Nicky Henderson is responsible for Mr Whipped, OK Corral and On The Blind Side.

Other entries to note include Vinndication, who has yet to taste defeat in six starts under rules and captured the Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot on his latest start, and Grade 2-winning hurdler Mr Whipped.

Surprisingly Willie Mullins has only two entries - Coquin Mains who ran in the Galmoy Hurdle but has yet to run over fences, and the mare Redhotfillypeppers. Wide margin Warwick winner Top Ville Ben is also an interesting contender for the Phil Kirby yard which is having a good season.

OK Corral heads JP eight for Hunt Chase

NATIONAL HUNT CHASE

J.P McManus is the most successful owner in the history of the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase for amateur riders, with six victories, and McManus runners account for eight of the 68 entries.

His squad is headed by hot favourite OK Corral, who impressed in taking a listed event by six lengths at Warwick on January 12th, last year’s Pertemps Final second Glenloe and Any Second Now, who was well fancied for the Close Brothers Chase last year.

Gigginstown House Stud, who captured the National Hunt Chase in 2017 with subsequent Randox Health Grand National hero Tiger Roll, also has eight entries.

They include last year’s festival winner Delta Work, Limerick Grade 1 winner Hardline, Grade 1-winning hurdler Champagne Classic and Blow By Blow, winner of the 2018 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

There are 25 Irish-trained runners and Jessica Harrington has entered Whisperinthebreeze and Moonshine Bay, both running in the Ann and Alan Potts colours.

The British-trained entries also include Grade 3 Classic Handicap Chase victor Impulsive Star and Mr Whipped from the Henderson yard.