My Pension Expert Arkle

Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

YOU don’t need a big field to deliver big drama, and the 2025 Arkle is testament to that.

Three different horses traded at 1/3 or shorter in-running before being gunned down in the dying strides by Jango Baie, who himself hit a whopping 329/1 in the mid-race markets. It was easily one of the best Arkle finishes you’ll ever see.

Majborough, viewed by most as the bombproof leg of the Tuesday four-fold, frustratingly came undone by loose jumping - particularly a bad mistake at the second last that put him in all sorts of trouble. Considering how he again landed on all fours over the final fence, it was a massive effort for him to only be beaten three quarters of a length and a short-head in third.

L’Eau Du Sud (touched 1/4 in-running) and admirable mare Only By Night (2/9 in-running) each had their turn at looking the likeliest winner, but Nico de Boinville got a seriously sweet tune out of Jango Baie, who looked to be going nowhere early in the straight yet rattled home from off the pace to get on top in the shadows of the post.

Tight finish

Only By Night justified Gavin Cromwell’s call to run her in Grade 1 company rather than the Mares’ Chase, beaten three quarters of a length in second, just edging out Majborough by a short-head.

Speaking after his record-extending eighth win in the Arkle, Nicky Henderson said of the 5/1 winner: “He wants two and a half miles. We thought we were going to make the running, but he had no chance because he couldn’t go fast enough – it was as simple as that.

“Luckily, he flew the last and landed absolutely full of running and all of sudden the gap was going down rapidly. I didn’t know he could go that fast, I must admit. It was Nico’s 50th Grade 1 and what a way to do it. It was a brilliant ride as he had to sit and suffer.”

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Only By Night (second)

“She ran a great race and I’m really happy with her. I don’t have an idea what’s next - this was the plan.”

Mark Walsh, rider of Majborough (third)

“I was happy with how everything was going. I got a lead over the first few and he settled great, whereas he was keen at Leopardstown. Touch Me Not jumped right at the fences in front of the stands, and he jumped into the pocket down the inner. He got in a bit tight to the fourth last, winged the third last, and it was just one of those things when I was going forward on him over the second last, squeezing away. He left his hind end in it and landed on his arse. He did well to pick up going to the last and I thought he could still have a squeak if he jumped the last, but he did something similar - he ballooned through it. It was a fair run after those two mistakes. If you don’t jump, you don’t win. I don’t know if the fact the mistake came at the first fence around a bend was a factor. He just put down and landed on his back end. Unfortunately, that’s racing. I’d’ be hoping he’ll get better and learn from this, it’s still only the sixth run of his career. If we can just iron out those jumping issues, he’s a serious horse. I’m keeping the faith in him anyway.”