Arkle Trial Tips 2026: Kabral Du Mathan To Beat Old Park Star

Billy Grimshaw previews Saturday's Arkle Trial at Cheltenham, where the betting can barely split Kabral Du Mathan and the Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Old Park Star. He explains which of the two he wants to be with and why, and there are selections for the rest of the November Meeting on our Cheltenham tips page.

I am writing this on Friday afternoon with the ground at Cheltenham good, good to soft in places, and seven runners declared for the 1.45pm. This is a match in the betting, with Kabral Du Mathan around evens, Old Park Star 6/5 and 12/1 bar the pair, and I think the market has that about right. My Arkle Trial trends piece showed how kind this race has been to the market leaders, with six of the last 13 favourites winning, and the only two runnings since 2010 with seven or more runners both went to the favourite. With two places on offer, there is no each-way angle worth having, so the job is to work out which of the big two to back.

Old Park Star is the one with the higher profile. He is unbeaten in four over hurdles, won the Supreme at the Festival in March by a length and a half from Sober Glory, and is two from two at Cheltenham, so there is no doubt about his class. The questions are all about Saturday. This is his first run over fences, he has been off for 249 days, and horses making their seasonal debut have won this race once from seven tries since 2016, when Lalor did it in 2018. Nicky Henderson has also had a frustrating time in it, with one winner from eight runners since 2010 and three beaten favourites at 11/8 or shorter. He could jump like a natural and win easily, but at 6/5 you are taking that on trust.

The rest look to be running for third. Workahead won a novice chase at Wexford but was beaten at 1/3 next time after hitting three out, and at eight he is the wrong age, as nothing aged seven or older has won this from 16 tries since 2016. Newtown Rambler, Passing Diamond and the four-year-old filly Folie Golith all like to make the running, and with Workahead also likely to be up there, they should take each other on. That ought to mean a proper gallop, which suits the two market leaders sitting just behind. Putapoundinthejar won the Galway Hurdle in the summer, but he is held up, and only one horse has won this race from off the pace since 2010.

The one I want is KABRAL DU MATHAN. He was impressive in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle here on New Year's Day, travelling strongly and going clear after the last on good ground, and he then ran a big race in the Stayers' Hurdle in March. He took a keen hold that day but was still going best when he led at the last, and only weakened in the final 110 yards over three miles. Back at two miles, that keenness should be less of a problem. He made his chasing debut at Perth on 15 October and could hardly have won more easily, making all and coming home 19 lengths clear in a four-runner beginners' chase over two miles.

He also fits this race better than anything else in it. Six-year-olds have won eight of the last ten runnings from 22 runners, he won last time and has already had a run this season, and Dan Skelton has won the race three times from four runners since 2010. The ground looks ideal too. Connections have pulled him out twice this year when it was not right, on good to firm at Sandown and on soft at Haydock, and his Relkeel win and Stayers' Hurdle run both came on good ground. He has the highest official rating in the field on 156, a pound above Old Park Star, and Harry Skelton rides.

The risk is that Perth told us little about his jumping under pressure, because he was never asked a question in a four-runner race he won at 2/9. If Old Park Star takes to fences, it could be a proper duel up the hill. This is not a big price either, and I make him a fair price at around evens rather than a bargain. But between a horse who has already won over fences and ticks every box, and a chasing debutant coming off a long break, I know which I would rather be with. KABRAL DU MATHAN is my bet to win, and Old Park Star is the obvious danger.