Arkle Challenge Trophy Tips: Class could tell, plus a great each-way shout

A Day 1 standout - the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase. The list of former winners takes your breath away - the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Shishkin, Douvan, Moscow Flyer - some of the very best. The event commemorates THE very best - the mighty three-time Gold Cup winner Arkle.

This 2024 renewal looks wide-open to me, so let's try to solve the puzzle, and look for one to run well for us at an each-way price, too. The race is scheduled for 14:10 on Tuesday March 12; and if there's a better raceday than the Festival opener (four Grade 1 races in the first five), then I'd like to be there. Juddmonte Day perhaps at York runs it close for me - in any event, aren't we the lucky ones?

14:10 Cheltenham - Gaelic Warrior @ 7/2

If this one hadn't run at Leopardstown early last month he'd be much shorter in the Arkle market. That was a prestigious Grade 1 novice worth £100,000+ to the winner, and as the red-hot 4/7 favourite he ran a listless race (2m 5.5f), before unshipping Paul Townend at the last when well cooked.

Back to the minimum trip here, Gaelic Warrior took the Faugheen prior to Leopardstown in most impressive fashion (2m 3.5f). He won his beginners' chase prior to that at Punchestown by 15l, in a canter. When the stars align, he's a very good horse indeed. Willie Mullins trains, and he runs in the famous Ricci silks - a Festival winner surely waiting to happen?

He's been placed in the Boodles and the Ballymore over hurdles at the last two Festivals, and is still only six. It's my opinion that he's very smart, and reverting back to two miles will be no hardship.

Whatever was ailing him last time needs to have been overcome, but I can see at least one very firm danger on the horizon (see below) - an each-way player at a tasty price.

Willie saddles Hunters Yarn and Il Etait Temps, and I like the latter's chance more under the brilliant Danny Mullins. He has form tying in to Found A Fifty too, so this is quite the puzzle - unless, as I hope, Gaelic Warrior shows us he's just a little bit better than the rest.

14:10 Cheltenham - My Mate Mozzie each-way @ 10/1

The selection represents Navan-based trainer Gavin Cromwell, enjoying a stellar season, and will be ridden by Keith Donoghue, a X-Country specialist here courtesy of talents like Tiger Roll and Delta Work.

My Mate Mozzie takes his chance instead of going for the Grand Annual, and he took a course-and-distance novice here in October in effortless fashion. A little break followed, then a fine second at Leopardstown over Xmas in a Grade 1 to Gordon Elliott's Found A Fifty, who re-opposes.

There was only 1.5l between them at the finish, and 'Mozzie' can utilise his local knowledge of the course's unique contours to run a huge race on Tuesday - perhaps even to take top spot, but in any event climb upon that podium and reward our each-way play, fingers crossed.

Cheltenham tips from Betfred Insights.