England and Ireland split the 12-strong field equally for the fascinating Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy today with six runners apiece, but the local horses dominate the betting.
Kayley Woollacott’s Lalor leapt to the head of the betting for the two-mile Grade One with a brilliant display at Prestbury Park in November, but returns with questions to answer after suffering an odds-on reverse in testing ground at Sandown the following month.
The Mick Channon-trained Glen Forsa, on the other hand, lines up at the top of his game after three successive wins – completing his hat-trick with a wide-margin success over Kalashnikov – also in the Arkle line-up – in the rescheduled Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Sandown
View Hollywood’s Neil Morrice’s preview on the 2019 Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Race 2) at the Cheltenham Festival below.
