Shishkin
Ireland has landed the Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase on 21 occasions, including in five of the last six years. Leading Irish-trained contenders include Energumene (Willie Mullins), a lightly-raced seven-year-old but hugely impressive in winning both his chase starts. Mullins’ six entries, the most of any trainer, also includes G1 Leopardstown scorer Franco de Port, the unexposed Unexcepted as well as Klassical Dream, winner of the G1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival™ in 2019. Mullins is responsible for four of the last six winners of the contest - Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Footpad (2018) and Duc de Genievres (2019).
Other leading contenders include Allmankind (Dan Skelton), third in last season’s G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle and winner of both his starts over fences, including the G1 Planteur at Chapel Stud Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December.
Trainer Jamie Snowden has two entries in Ga Law and Thebannerkingrebel. A Listed winner over hurdles, Thebannerkingrebel began the current campaign by finishing sixth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle before making a winning start over fences at Plumpton. Ga Law landed his first three starts over fences, including the G2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Warwick, before taking third in the G1 Planteur at Chapel Stud Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December.
Lambourn-based Snowden said: “Ga Law is in great order and the plan was to always give him a break after running at Sandown in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
“I was delighted with his performance in that event, but he did shape as if he wanted to go back up in trip and so that looks the plan for the rest of the season.
“His next run will be in the Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton in February. That is a step back up in trip and we are looking forward to seeing him back in action.
“We have entered him in the Arkle, Marsh and the three-miler at the Cheltenham Festival. I think we will see how get on at Kempton first, but I am leaning towards either the Marsh or the three-miler.
“The Arkle would probably be the outsider of the three at the moment, just because I think he needs to go back up in trip and probably the Marsh is the slight favourite.
“A lot can still happen, so we will just take things week by week and see how he gets on at Kempton. The Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree is also another race I think could really suit him too. These Cheltenham races close early so we have made the entries and we will see how he is in the coming weeks.
“Thebannerkingrebel is on for a £40,000 bonus at the Cheltenham Festival if he can win a race there having landed a contest at Plumpton earlier this season.
“He did take quite a bad fall back at the track last time so we’ll take our time with him and we might enter him in a number of races at Cheltenham over both hurdles and fences."
SPORTING LIFE ARKLE NOVICES' CHASE (Grade 1)
Allart (IRE) 7 11 4 Mr R. A. Bartlett Nicky Henderson
Allmankind (GB) 5 11 4 W. J. and T. C. O. Gredley Dan Skelton
Beat The Judge (IRE) 6 11 4 Mr Ed Babington Gary Moore
Blackbow (IRE) 8 11 4 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
Captain Guinness (IRE) 6 11 4 Declan Landy Henry de Bromhead IRE
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 9 11 4 Mr V. Healy Michael Winters IRE
Darver Star (IRE) 9 11 4 SSP Number Twenty Two Syndicate Gavin Cromwell IRE
Eldorado Allen (FR) 7 11 4 J P Romans & Terry Warner Colin Tizzard
Elixir de Nutz (FR) 7 11 4 Mr Terry Warner Colin Tizzard
Embittered (IRE) 7 11 4 Gigginstown House Stud Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Energumene (FR) 7 11 4 Anthony Bloom W. P. Mullins IRE
Envoi Allen (FR) 7 11 4 Cheveley Park Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Epson du Houx (FR) 7 11 4 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Est Illic (IRE) 7 11 4 Mr Andrew Gough Sarah-Jayne Davies
Fast Buck (FR) 7 11 4 Sullivan Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls
Felix Desjy (FR) 8 11 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Franco de Port (FR) 6 11 4 Bruton Street V W. P. Mullins IRE
Funambule Sivola (FR) 6 11 4 My Racing Manager Friends Venetia Williams
Fusil Raffles (FR) 6 11 4 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Ga Law (FR) 5 11 4 The Footie Partnership Jamie Snowden
Gumball (FR) 7 11 4 Mr Terry Warner Philip Hobbs
Harambe (GB) 8 11 4 Niall Farrell & Friends Alan King
Hitman (FR) 5 11 4 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls
Janidil (FR) 7 11 4 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE
Klassical Dream (FR) 7 11 4 Mrs J Coleman W. P. Mullins IRE
Le Patriote (FR) 9 11 4 Canard Vert Racing Club Dr Richard Newland
Malystic (GB) 7 11 4 Clova Syndicate and Mrs J A Niven Peter Niven
Numitor (GB) 7 11 4 Wetumpka Racing Heather Main
Shishkin (IRE) 7 11 4 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson
Sky Pirate (GB) 8 11 4 Mr M. Tedham Jonjo O'Neill
Sporting John (IRE) 6 11 4 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs
Thebannerkingrebel (IRE) 8 11 4 League Of Nations Jamie Snowden
Unexcepted (FR) 7 11 4 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE
Zambella (FR) 6 10 11 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
34 entries
13 Irish-trained
National Hunt Novices’ Chase – Day One, Tuesday, 16 March
The G2 National Hunt Novices’ Chase takes place over three miles and six furlongs on Tuesday, 16 March.
There are 59 entries this year, including 20 from Ireland. Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has landed the contest four times, including with the legendary dual Randox Grand National hero Tiger Roll in 2017 and last year with Ravenhill. He has the most entries of any trainer this year, seven, which are headed by Galvin.
Owned by Ronnie Bartlett, the seven-year-old Galvin is a second season novice and ended the 2019/20 campaign by finishing runner-up to Imperial Aura in the Listed Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival™. He is undefeated in four starts this season and relished the step up in distance when impressively winning a novices’ chase over an extended three miles at Cheltenham in October on his most recent appearance.
A fascinating entry is Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams), who also holds entries in the Festival Novices’ Chase as well as the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. Another experienced novice, he could not have been more impressive in winning both chase starts this season at Haydock Park and Kempton Park.
The National Hunt Novices’ Chase is one of the few races at The Festival™ to have eluded Nicky Henderson but the reigning champion trainer has a live contender this year in Dickie Diver, owned by J P McManus and fourth in the 2019 G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. He shaped well when second on his chasing debut at Newbury last month.
Jamie Snowden has two entries in this contest in the shape of Kiltealy Briggs, who was third at Ascot behind Allart in G2 company last time out, and
Thomas Macdonagh, who got off the mark over fences at Catterick earlier this month.
The trainer continued: “Cheltenham plans are up in the air for Kiltealy Briggs at the moment.
"We are not really leaning anywhere with him, but he is in good form and the plan was to run him in the Altcar Novices’ Chase at Haydock on Saturday but I think that meeting could succumb to the weather. That race was probably going to tell us where we stand with him, so we will see what happens there first.
“The National Hunt Chase is possible for Thomas Macdonagh. He won well at Catterick last time out and he could also be one for a handicap at Cheltenham."
NATIONAL HUNT NOVICES' CHASE (Grade 2)
Acey Milan (IRE) 7 11 6 Owners For Owners: Acey Milan Anthony Honeyball
Aforementioned (FR) 8 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Born By The Sea (IRE) 7 11 6 Natalie Gilligan Paul John Gilligan IRE
Braeside (IRE) 7 11 6 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott IRE
Darlac (FR) 8 11 6 Mrs G. C. Pritchard Colin Tizzard
Eden du Houx (FR) 7 11 6 Prof. Caroline Tisdall David Pipe
Escaria Ten (FR) 7 11 6 McNeill Family Gordon Elliott IRE
Eurobot (GB) 7 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
Eva's Oskar (IRE) 7 11 6 Sally & Richard Prince Tim Vaughan
Forza Milan (IRE) 9 11 6 TSKOC Syndicate James A. Nash IRE
Full Back (FR) 6 11 6 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore
Galvin (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott IRE
Golan Fortune (IRE) 9 11 6 P Middleton, M Lowther Phil Middleton
Happygolucky (IRE) 7 11 6 Lady Dulverton Kim Bailey
If The Cap Fits (IRE) 9 11 6 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Harry Fry
Latest Exhibition (IRE) 8 11 6 Toberona Partnership Paul Nolan IRE
Lithic (IRE) 10 11 6 The Stone Composers Jonjo O'Neill
Longhouse Poet (IRE) 7 11 6 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil IRE
Macgiloney (IRE) 8 11 6 M. Moloney Denis G. Hogan IRE
Milanford (IRE) 7 11 6 Sherborne Utilities Ltd Nick Mitchell
Nestor Park (FR) 8 11 6 Mrs S. P. Davis Ben Pauling
Next Destination (IRE) 9 11 6 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark Paul Nicholls
Ofalltheginjoints (IRE) 7 11 6 The Reserve Tankers Colin Tizzard
Port of Mars (IRE) 7 11 6 Noel and Valerie Moran Olly Murphy
Prime Venture (IRE) 10 11 6 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams
Remastered (GB) 8 11 6 Brocade Racing David Pipe
Royale Pagaille (FR) 7 11 6 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams
Run Wild Fred (IRE) 7 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Salty Boy (IRE) 8 11 6 Premier Plastering (UK) Limited David Bridgwater
Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
Shanty Alley (GB) 7 11 6 Jerry Wright Adam Lucock Patricia Murray Ben Case
Sizing At Midnight (IRE) 9 11 6 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Colin Tizzard
Soldier of Love (GB) 8 11 6 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark Paul Nicholls
St Barts (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Philip Hobbs
The Big Dog (IRE) 8 11 6 Damien J. Kelly/Colin Kelly Peter Fahey IRE
The Mighty Don (IRE) 9 11 6 Golden Rose Partnership Nick Gifford
Thomas Macdonagh (GB) 8 11 6 Sperling, Coomes, Davies, Hague, Collins Jamie Snowden
Kitty's Light (GB) 5 11 5 R J Bedford & Partners Christian Williams
Snow Leopardess (GB) 9 10 13 Mr A. Fox-Pitt Charlie Longsdon
Ask Me Early (IRE) 7 11 6 The Dare Family Harry Fry
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 7 11 6 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE
Coko Beach (FR) 6 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Demachine (IRE) 7 11 6 West Coast Haulage Limited Kerry Lee
Dickie Diver (IRE) 8 11 6 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Dominateur (FR) 8 11 6 Kate & Andrew Brooks Oliver Sherwood
Eklat de Rire (FR) 7 11 6 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead IRE
Eleazar des Neiges (FR) 7 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr D. F. Desmond M. F. Morris IRE
Hurricane Harvey (GB) 7 11 6 Walid Marzouk & Richard Rowland Fergal O'Brien
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 7 11 6 McNeill Family Jamie Snowden
Legends Gold (IRE) 7 11 6 Lockett,Hyde,Mountford,Bishop&Outhart Rebecca Curtis
Lord Royal (FR) 6 11 6 Paul Connell/Alan McGonnell W. P. Mullins IRE
Nadaitak (GB) 7 11 6 The Megsons Ben Pauling
Notice To Close (GB) 7 11 6 Mrs S. Neville Seamus Neville IRE
One For The Team (GB) 7 11 6 Forty Winks Syndicate 2 & Partner Nick Williams
Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 7 11 6 Robcour Gordon Elliott IRE
Some Detail (IRE) 7 11 6 Milltown Racing Nigel Hawke
The Ferry Master (IRE) 8 11 6 The Potassium Partnership Sandy Thomson
The Wolf (FR) 7 11 6 McNeill Family and Prodec Networks Ltd Olly Murphy
59 entries
20 Irish-trained
Festival Novices’ Chase – Day Two, Wednesday, 17 March
Staged over an extended three miles, the Festival Novices’ Chase is the second race on day two of The Festival™, Wednesday, 17 March.
There are 53 entries this year, with 22 hailing from Ireland including the current clear favourite Monkfish, one of four entries for Willie Mullins. The seven-year-old is already a winner at The Festival™, having taken the G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2020. He has won both his starts over fences in great style, mostly recently securing a G1 contest at Leopardstown over Christmas. The Mullins quartet also includes Colreevy, a G1 scorer at Limerick on 26 December.
