Irish Independent Arkle Chase - Analysis

The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase has attracted 57 top-class entries, the second highest number ever, including 19 from Ireland and two from France.

Ten-times champion trainer Martin Pipe has won the contest for the past two years, and four times in total, courtesy of Or Royal (1997), Champleve (1998), Well Chief (2004) and Contraband (2005), and this year can choose from five entries.

Recent Ludlow victor Tamarinbleu was a decent hurdler, winning the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Sandown in 2005, and made a promising chasing debut when a short-head second to Accordion Etoile in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on November 13, while Whispered Secret won over an extended two and a half miles at Cheltenham on October 26 before running fourth to Albuhera in a novice chase at Exeter.

Don't Be Shy, Marcel and Medison represent powerful owner David Johnson, who has supplied Pipe with his four winners to date, and all three boast decent hurdle form without having won over fences before last weekend.

Paul Nicholls, who saddled Flagship Uberalles to victory in 1999 and followed up with Azertyuiop four years later, has a team of seven engaged, including Hoo La Baloo, whose record of two wins from three starts over fences features a victory in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.

Albuhera has won twice over fences and chased home Mister McGoldrick in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby last time out on December 27, while Cerium, who finished fourth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at last year's Festival, has a two-from-three record over the larger obstacles, having finished third behind Racing Demon in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on December 3.

Hors La Loi III, winner of the 2002 Smurfit Champion Hurdle and a novice chase at Taunton, Le Volfoni, successful in his last three novice chases, Cornish Sett and Turthen complete the Nicholls contingent.

Unbeaten in two starts over fences, Racing Demon is an exciting prospect. Henrietta Knight's star was second to No Refuge in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at The Festival last year, and his two chasing victories this season have included a four-length defeat of Hoo La Baloo in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on December 3.

Philip Hobbs has three to consider, in the shape of Chilling Place, Supreme Serenade and Symphonique, as does Alan King, who has Handy Money, Nyrche and Voy Por Ustedes entered, the last-named having won all three novice chase starts in impressive style.

Nicky Henderson, who has a great record in the Arkle, having taken the contest on three occasions with Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993) and Tiutchev (2000), has Fleet Street and Perle de Puce in this year, while Jonjo O'Neill relies on Bold Bishop and Neptune D'Anzy, the latter a hurdles winner in France but yet to run in ths country.

Another trainer doubly represented is Howard Johnson, who has Coat Of Honour and Iron Man engaged for main patrons Andrea and Graham Wylie, while Henry Daly has Billyvoddan and Green Tango entered.

James Fanshawe's possible is Pole Star, who finished fourth behind No Refuge and Racing Demon in last year's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, but who fell on his chasing debut at Leicester, while Nicky Richards' Monet's Garden also has an entry in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, as does Paul Webber's Shuhood.

The British-trained entries also include the Mark Rimell-trained Crossbow Creek, Malcolm Jefferson's Roman Ark, Alex Hales' Sharp Rigging, John Quinn's Aleron, Mark Pitman's Without A Doubt, and Phar Out Phavorite, from Emma Lavelle's stable.

Irish-trained horses have a good record in the race, having taken three of the last 10 renewals, and one of the leading contenders this year is Accordion Etoile.

The Paul Nolan-trained seven-year-old finished fourth behind Hardy Eustace in last year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle, and followed up his chase debut second to Watson Lake at Limerick by landing the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham's Open Meeting on November 13. He could be joined in the contest by stablemate Kill Devil Hill.

Two of the most exciting novice chasers seen out this season are Justified, trained by Eamon Sheehy, and winner of three novice chases, including a Grade Two contest at Punchestown on November 20, and Martin Brassil's Nickname, who has won both starts over fences, demolishing the opposition on each occasion.

Arthur Moore, who scored back in 1982 with The Brockshee and again in 1995 with Klairon Davis, has Mansony and The Railway Man engaged, while Edward O'Grady, who landed the prize in 1996 with Ventana Canyon, has Back In Front, winner of the 2003 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Monjoyau and On The Net entered.

Noel Meade is responsible for the quartet of Augherskea, Father Matt, Wild Passion and Zum See, and Willie Mullins has two entries in the form of Missed That, winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at last year's Festival and twice a victor over fences this season, and Davenport Democrat.

The Irish entry is completed by Michael O'Brien's pair of Doctor Linton and In Compliance, the Michael Hourigan-trained Arteea, and Mr McAuley, from the Ian Ferguson yard.

The two French-trained entries are Thierry Doumen's Foreman, whose finest moment came when taking the 2004 Irish Champion Hurdle, and last - but by no means least - Mid Dancer, winner of all nine career starts, in the care of La Palmyre-based handler Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.