Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase Tips & Odds
The Arkle Challenge Trophy is the second race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Read More
Here you can check out all the latest odds, runners and Cheltenham tips for the Grade 1 2m novice chase, as well as learning everything about the history of the Arkle and how you can place a bet on the race with some of the best horse racing betting sites.
#AD New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply
-
3
1/5 -
3
1/5 -
-
3
1/5 -
3
1/5 -
About the Arkle Challenge Trophy
The Arkle Trophy is a Grade 1 novice chase, which is run over just shy of two miles (one mile, seven furlongs, and 199 yards) and is traditionally held on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, known as Champion Tuesday. The race is seen as ideal preparation for the following year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, and winners of the Arkle regularly go on to complete that particular double the following year, with the 2017 winner Altior the most recent Arkle winner to achieve the feat, doing so in 2018.
The Arkle Challenge Trophy was first introduced to the Cheltenham Festival in 1969, and was named after the three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Arkle, who is largely considered to be the greatest National Hunt horse of all time. Arkle winners regularly follow up at the Cheltenham Festival later in their careers, and several horses have done so this decade - Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Un De Sceaux, and Altior.
GAELIC WARRIOR proved himself a high class two miler when winning the Arkle of 2024 in easy fashion for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, after a confusing season when he ran over two, two and a half and three miles.
Latest Betting
The Arkle of 2025 could be a fantastic race if every horse in the antepost list turns up, however that seems unlikely. Ballyburn heads the market at 5/1, but it seems Willie Mullins is leaning toward trying to win a Champion Hurdle with that horse. Sir Gino, the top British juvenile in 2024 who missed Cheltenham due to the Henderson form, is next at 8/1 and is at least likely to come here, while Supreme winner Slade Steel is 12/1. FIREFOX could be interesting over fences for Gordon Elliott and looks a definite two mile chaser in the making.
Arkle Challenge Trophy Key Trends
- Seven of the last 10 winners have been sent off favourite - five have been odds-on favourites
- There have been five UK-trained and five Irish-trained winners of the last 10 renewals of the Arkle
- All ten of the last 10 winners won their last race before claiming Arkle success
Arkle Challenge Trophy Tips
Our very own longshot specialist RaceOlly will have tips for the Arkle closer to the race time in 2025...
Previous Winners Of The Arkle Challenge Trophy
Year | Winner | Winning Jockey | Winning Trainer | Starting Price | AGE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Gaelic Warrior | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 2/1 Fav | 6 |
2023 | El Fabiolo | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 11/10 Fav | 6 |
2022 | Edwardstone | Tom Cannon | Alan King | 5/2 Fav | 8 |
2021 | Shishkin | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 4/9 Fav | 7 |
2020 | Put The Kettle On | Aidan Coleman | Henry de Bromhead | 16/1 | 6 |
2019 | Duc Des Genievres | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 5/1 | 6 |
2018 | Footpad | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 5/6 Fav | 6 |
2017 | Altior | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 1/4 Fav | 7 |
2016 | Douvan | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins | 1/4 Fav | 6 |
2015 | Un De Sceaux | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins | 4/6 Fav | 7 |
2014 | Western Warhorse | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | 33/1 | 6 |
2013 | Simonsig | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 8/15 Fav | 7 |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Arkle Challenge Trophy
When is the Arkle Challenge Trophy?
The race takes place at 14:10 on Tuesday 11th March 2025
Where can I watch the Arkle Challenge Trophy?
Watch the race live on ITV1 and Racing TV, which also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services.
Alternatively, most betting sites will offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.
Who is the most iconic winner of the Arkle Challenge Trophy?
The name of the Arkle is a deceptive one when looking at the roll of honour for the race, as the great Arkle never won the race himself. The race hasn’t suffered from that, though, and a host of star names have made their mark in the race - including Moscow Flyer. Although he was a Grade 1-winning hurdler, Moscow Flyer really came into his own over fences, and barring two falls he enjoyed an excellent novice chasing season, which culminated in winning the 2002 renewal of the Arkle. Jumping issues would continue to niggle Moscow Flyer throughout his career, but he built up a formidable record nonetheless, winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005. Moscow Flyer would continue racing until the grand old age of 12, and signed off by finishing a creditable fifth in the 2006 Champion Chase.
Are there any trials for the Arkle Challenge Trophy?
There are plenty of trial races for the Arkle that are worth keeping an eye out for throughout the season, with the most significant of those being the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton. Other races to note include the Future Stars Intermediate Chase at Sandown, the November Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, the Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot, the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster and the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick. Over in Ireland, races to watch include the Buck House Novice Chase and the Craddockstown Novice Chase, which are both at Punchestown, and the Racing Post Novice Chase and the Irish Arkle, which are both at Leopardstown.
Who is the most successful jockey in the Arkle Challenge Trophy?
The joint-most successful jockeys in the history of the Arkle Trophy are Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh, who both have four wins. Barry Geraghty’s Arkle wins came with Moscow Flyer (2002), Forpadydeplasterer (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2012), and Simonsig (2013), while Ruby Walsh’s four Arkle wins came with Azertyuiop (2003), Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016) and Footpad (2018).
Who is the most successful trainer in the Arkle Challenge Trophy?
The most successful trainer in the history of the Arkle Trophy is Nicky Henderson, who has won the race seven times, with Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013), Altior (2017) and Shishkin (2021).