The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase Analysis

Champion trainer Martin Pipe gained his third success in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase last year courtesy of Well Chief, who was following in the steps of Or Royal, who landed the two-mile event in 1997, and Champleve, successful the following year.

This time the master of Nicholashayne has six entries including Contraband, who won his first start over fences last time when successful in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December when getting the better of The Last Cast by five lengths, having finished eight lengths runner-up to Fundamentalist in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham's Open Meeting.

Pipe's entry is completed by Locksmith, a winning favourite at Plumpton in December, Escompteur, Kingston Town, Meneur De Jeu and Sardagna.

Fellow Somerset handler Paul Nicholls is one behind Pipe in the roll of honour having struck with Flagship Uberalles in 1999 and Azertyuiop two years ago.

Nicholls could have four runners this season headed by Kauto Star, who made a pleasing winning debut in this country in a Newbury novices' chase at the end of December when scoring by nine lengths from Foreman. His trainer was suitably impressed and enthused: 'Ruby [Walsh, jockey] got off and said he was a machine. End of story.' Not surprisingly, Kauto Star is the ante-post favourite.

Le Seychellois, who took a tumble last time after winning a four-year-old novices' chase at Warwick on his British debut in November, Indien Royal and the Judy Stewart-owned My Will, a winner again at Uttoxeter on January 22,complete Nicholls's squad.

The Paul Nolan-trained Cloone River could be the best of the 17 Irish possibles. Last year's Galway Hurdle winner has taken well to the larger obstacles, easily winning both of his starts at Tralee and Galway while Ulaan Baatar comes into the reckoning on his Baileys Arkle Chase win at Leopardstown on Sunday, January 23.

War Of Attrition, trained by Mouse Morris, the Pat Fahy-trained Mariah Rollins and Noel Meade's Sir Oj are among many other entries with decent chances hailing from the Emerald Isle.

The former made only one mistake when winning his first start in a beginners' chase at Thurles in November, having not run since finding only Brave Inca a quarter of a length too good in last year's Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle at The Festival, while Mariah Rollins, who unseated David Casey in that last-named event, has won two of her three starts over fences including the top-class Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, keeping on well to hold off Steel Band by four lengths.

Edward O'Grady won this two-mile championship event in 1996 with Ventana Canyon and this year he will be hoping to follow up with Ned Kelly, who was a further 10 lengths adrift at Leopardstown in third on his chasing bow.

Sir Oj unseated his amateur rider in that contest having previously won all three starts over fences including the Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown in November, when accounting for Mariah Rollins by two lengths.

Meade could also be represented by Watson Lake and Zum See. The former was stepped up in class after making a winning bow over fences and did not let connections down winning the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in November, while Zum See is still searching for his first chasing victory having been well beaten by the Dessie Hughes-trained Guilt in a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse last month.

Davenport Milenium, Euro Leader, Kahuna, 2002 Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Like-A-Butterfly, Newmill, Scarthy Lad and Strike Back complete the Irish contingent.

Christian Von Der Recke supplies the German-trained entry in the form of Fiepes Shuffle, a Group Three scorer on the Flat for Mario Hofer.

Foreman is the French possible among the 48 entries. Last year's Irish Champion Hurdle hero had the misfortune to come up against Kauto Star on his chasing debut but trainer Thierry Doumen was far from downbeat afterwards about the second place, declaring: 'The winner was a good horse in France so I was very happy with that and he jumped like a star.'

Noel Chance has never won this race and will be hoping to alter that statistic with River City, who is unbeaten over fences in five starts including a novices' chase at Aintree in October, when he led approaching the last under a fine Tom Doyle ride to beat Contraband by two lengths.

Other significant entries include Kevin Bishop's Ashley Brook, most recently a close second to My Will after making all to beat Indien Royal by a distance in a novices' chase at Newton Abbott over two miles and six furlongs in November, and last season's JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Made In Japan, who won a novices' chase at Kempton two months ago.

Most recently Made In Japan was well beaten behind stablemate Pak Jack in a novice chase at Kempton on January 15, when Supreme Developer finished second, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner.

Saintsaire is trained by Nicky Henderson, who has won this event on three occasions with Remittance Man in 1991, Travado two years later and Tiutchev in 2000. Saintsaire has not been seen in action since finishing third in April's Scottish Champion Hurdle behind Copeland and has yet to jump a fence in public but it could be significant that he is the Lambourn handler's sole entry.