Arkle Chase
Arkle Chase
The Arkle Novices’ Chase is the championship race for two-mile novice chasers, officially known as the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
It is a searching test for young horses, who must jump 13 fences at speed. In 2024, My Pension Expert was announced as the race’s sponsor.
Introduced in 1969 as a replacement for the Cotswold Chase, the race honours three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Arkle. Many winners have gone on to claim the Queen Mother Champion Chase, including Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, Voy Por Ustedes, Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Put The Kettle On.
The race has a strong link with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Douvan, Altior and Shishkin all winning the Arkle a year after landing that opener. Like the Supreme, it has been dominated in recent seasons by the Henderson and Mullins yards, who have shared 11 of the last 14 runnings.
Trends have shifted sharply. Prior to Sprinter Sacre’s victory in 2012, there had been just one winning favourite in 19 years, but the market leader has now won 10 of the last 14 renewals, including seven odds-on winners — largely a consequence of smaller fields.
Five-year-olds, however, have struggled since the removal of their age allowance, going 0-for-17 since 2007, most recently with the 1/2 shot Majborough in 2025.
Tuesday 14.00 | 5yo+ novices | Grade 1
2 miles | 13 fences | Old Course
Weight: 11st 7lb | Allowance: 7lb for mares
2025 Prize money: £200,000
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | WINNER | SP |
| 2025 | Jango Baie | 5/1 |
| 2024 | Gaelic Warrior | 2/1f |
| 2023 | El Fabiolo | 11/10f |
| 2022 | Edwardstone | 5/2f |
| 2021 | Shishkin | 4/9f |
| 2020 | Put The Kettle On | 16/1 |
| 2019 | Duc Des Genievres | 5/1 |
| 2018 | Footpad | 5/6f |
| 2017 | Altior | 1/4f |
| 2016 | Douvan | 1/4f |
| 2015 | Un De Sceaux | 4/6f |
| 2014 | Western Warhorse | 33/1 |
| 2013 | Simonsig | 8/15f |
| 2012 | Sprinter Sacre | 8/11f |
| 2011 | Captain Chris | 6/1 |
| 2010 | Sizing Europe | 6/1 |
| 2009 | Forpadydeplasterer | 8/1 |
| 2008 | Tidal Bay | 6/1 |
| 2007 | My Way De Solzen | 7/2 |
| 2006 | Voy Por Ustedes | 15/2 |
| 2005 | Contraband | 7/1 |
| 2004 | Well Chief | 9/1 |
| 2003 | Azertyuiop | 5/4f |
| 2002 | Moscow Flyer | 11/2 |
| 2001 | Festival Cancelled | N/A |
| 2000 | Tiutchev | 8/1 |
