Arkle Trial Novices' Chase Tips: Progressive Public to land Grade 2 at Cheltenham
Check out our 2023 Arkle Trial Novices' Chase tip for the Grade 2 contest which takes place at Cheltenham on Friday afternoon on day one of the November Meeting. Only four runners will go to post and it could be a race devoid of quality, but we have picked out our selection for what should be a trappy little betting heat for punters to get stuck into...
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None of the four runners in Friday's 1m 7f 199y Arkle Trial sit prominently in the ante-post betting for the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, but the entire quartet will hold aspirations of booking their place in the Grade 1 contest on day one of the festival in March, none more so than JPR One, who heads the betting for Joe Tizzard.
Fifth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, the six-year-old appeared to improve immeasurably for a switch to fences at Newton Abbot this season and he scooted to an eye-catching two-length victory over two smart rivals. Beating Iceo and Monviel that day, the Tizzard raider showed a real liking to the larger obstacles and he's sure to improve for that experience. With Unexpected Party opting to head down the Paddy Power Gold Cup route on Saturday rather than lining up here, JPR One's task has been made much easier here. A race around Cheltenham is sure to be tougher than one round Newton Abbot, and the current 33/1 shot for the Arkle in March will be eager to make it two from two.
Despite ticking many boxes, JPR One could be one that features in decent handicap events this season and may fall below Graded level. He looks awfully short against some up-and-coming novice chasers that make more appeal from a betting perspective.
There was an Irish-trained winner in the shape of Banbridge 12 months ago and the Emerald Isle contender this season is Mighty Tom, who is second in the betting. The eight-year-old comes here on the back of a decent second placed finish at Cork earlier this month. He was no match for the classy looking Letsbeclearaboutit, but Mighty Tom had pulled six lengths clear of the second that day over 2m 4f. Dropping back to two miles for this event, the Dylan Thomas gelding will need to improve on that Cork run and he could just lack that bit of speed needed to win this event.
Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero are certainly making significant waves in the training ranks and they saddle the only other chase winner in the shape of HOMME PUBLIC, who is currently the outsider of four, but arguably makes the most appeal at the prices. He may not have the fancy profile of the likes of JPR One and did not compete at the highest level over hurdles, but he was hugely impressive when downing a decent rival in Geronimo in a Wetherby handicap chase last month. Held up in that contest, he made steady headway through the field before pushing clear in the closing stages and waiting tactics could be in order once again on Friday.
All his career wins to date have come over trips around two miles, so it's tailor-made for him to run a big race and the six-year-old is one that may not be a leading Arkle contender come the spring, but he looks more than capable of landing a hefty blow in this winnable Grade 2. Jonjo O'Neill's Petit Tonnerre completes the line-up and he will be having his first run over fences, which is going to be a pretty big ask. Last seen finishing seventh in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the Jackdaws Castle inmate is another with a bright future ahead of him, but he's one that doesn't have race fitness on his side, so he's best watched in what could be a fascinating spectacle at Prestbury Park.