Vista Can Battle To Arkle Glory

Martin Pipe always loved lining up an unexposed young horse or two for the Cheltenham Festival and his son David can prove he is a chip off the block at this year's fixture.

With the 16-1 about Dom D'Orgeval in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase already in the bag, it is time to turn our attention to the other big novice event, the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy.

And Pipe junior must have a good chance of the double as Buena Vista boasts all the right credentials for the race.

Run over two miles, it takes accurate jumping and a blend of speed and stamina to come out on top, attributes that last year's winner Voy Por Ustedes had in abundance.

The current favourite Fair Along looks solid enough and you would be hard-pressed to find reasons against supporting him but at a best-priced 3-1, he makes little appeal.

However, Buena Vista is still available at an attractive 16-1 with a number of bookmakers, including William Hill and Coral, and he is fancied to get Pipe's Festival off to a good start.

Buena Vista has everything you need in an Arkle winner as he has run well at the two previous Festivals, finishing sixth in the Champion Bumper behind Missed That and third to Noland in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last year.

He has already won over two and a half miles over fences, a handy prerequisite to have as the race is run at such a fierce gallop over a stiff course that you need to stay every yard of the trip.

The six-year-old also beat a smart sort in Tora Bora on his debut over fences and then followed up by giving the useful Chief Yeoman 10lb and a short-head beating.

He benefited from a great ride by champion jockey Tony McCoy on the occasion and the fact JP McManus has no obvious contender for the Arkle at this stage can only be a bonus.

McCoy has partnered the horse in both of his chase wins to date and he was also aboard for three wins over timber.

The duo have only been beaten twice, with those defeats coming at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.

Buena Vista's chance is obvious and despite his price steadily contracting over the last few weeks, he still looks a good value bet.

Pipe's decision to delay a chasing campaign with Ladbroke Hurdle winner Acambo could well be a hint in itself, particularly as the trainer admitted he has backed another of his inmates for the race.

Let us hope it is Buena Vista.

? PA Sport