The Arkle Novices’ Chase is always one of the most eagerly anticipated races at the Cheltenham Festival, and this year’s renewal is following the same trend.
The Grade 1 contest is run over two miles on the first day of the meeting and always generates plenty of betting activity. Read on as we preview the big race.
Arkle Novices’ Chase 2026: Betting
Leading sportsbook BetMGM UK rates Lulamba as the favourite to win the Arkle. The full ante-post betting is as follows:
- Lulamba – 5/4
- Kopek Des Bordes – 5/2
- Romeo Coolio – 9/2
- Kargese – 9/2
- Irish Panther – 12/1
- Steel Ally – 12/1
- Kappa Jy Pyke – 14/1
- Salvator Mundi – 16/1
- July Flower – 25/1
- Sixmilebridge – 33/1
- Port Joulain – 40/1
- Be Aware – 50/1
- Jax Junior – 50/1
- Mambonumberfive – 50/1
- No Questions Asked – 50/1
- Break My Soul – 66/1
- Hansard – 66/1
- Mirabad – 80/1
- Downmexicoway – 100/1
Arkle Novices’ Chase: Trends
Here are some of the key trends in the Arkle Chase:
- Age: Six and seven-year-olds have won 21 of the last 28 renewals. Only four five-year-olds have been successful in the race.
- Betting: The favourite has triumphed in ten of the past 14 renewals.
- Ratings: Horses rated 160 or more have provided nine winners from 16 runners since 2010.
- Trainer: Nicky Henderson has won the Arkle on eight previous occasions.
- Form: Recent winning form is crucial. Just six of the last 28 winners had failed to win on their last race before the Arkle.
Arkle Novices’ Chase: Preview
Lulamba is a worthy favourite for the race – he ticks several key trends boxes and maintained his unbeaten record this season with a victory in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last weekend.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He produced several sketchy jumps under jockey Nico De Boinville, which led to questions about whether he’s too short in the betting.
Henderson isn’t worried. He believes the heavy ground played a part in the slightly underwhelming performance and thinks he will be better suited to Cheltenham.
“I really don’t think that was his ground, but they have done a great job,” Henderson said. “Nico and I walked around this morning, and we were perfectly happy to run.
“He is better on good ground, and I think he will jump better on good ground. He didn’t need a race, but he needed the experience.
“Going with those older horses where they are going to go a proper good gallop is where you are going to learn. We know Saint Segal and Master Chewy can go a good gallop. It helps them to learn.”
“He has got loads of scope, and we have lots of time for a little practice. His jumping has got a little bit of finesse to come, but that will be there, I hope, come the Cheltenham Festival in March.”
There is another concern – five-year-olds have a poor recent record in the race. On that basis, second favourite Kopek Des Bordes looks to be the value bet in the Arkle this year.
Trainer Willie Mullins has made no secret of how highly he rates the six-year-old, and a recent schooling session will have done little to dampen his enthusiasm.
Owner Charlie McCarthy claimed the horse was ‘squealing’ following an explosive public schooling session after racing at Punchestown last week.
Former jockey Ruby Walsh believes Mullins’ decision to swerve the recent Dublin Racing Festival could prove to be a shrewd move.
“He is very much in the picture, and Western Warhorse has done it, Well Chief has done it – you can win an Arkle off one run,” Walsh said.
“Kopek was good at Navan – he jumped better than I thought he was going to jump a fence. I thought at times he was clumsy over a hurdle, but fences seemed to have kicked his brain into gear, to move his feet at the same speed.”
Romeo Coolio and Kargese are next in the betting after filling the first two places in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown at the start of February.
However, both horses look like they would benefit from stepping up in trip, and they may be aimed at different races next month.
The verdict
Kopek Des Bordes is a confident selection in a race that may ultimately become a head-to-head with the favourite on the run-in.
Odds of 5/2 represent excellent value for the 2025 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, and he is fancied to lower Lulamba’s colours at Cheltenham.
