Well, off the bat, they aren’t great. That’s a disappointing return because it screams of there being a lack of competitiveness in the Arkle 2016. It’s true that Douvan is a masterful horse and is in very high standing at the moment, but it has led, much like last year really, to what should be an Arkle field without a tremendous amount of depth in it. Douvan is trading at a price of 4/11 odds on with online betting site Sky Bet.
Undefeated in seven races, Douvan is the master. You may remember him from last year at the Cheltenham Festival when he won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with ease over Shaneshill. Big wins are the staple of what Douvan does. His maiden this season at Navan saw him land almost a ten length victory over Rogue Trader and things have gotten even better since then. Running at 8/1 third favourite in the Arkle 2016 is Sizing John and he has been beaten heavily by Douvan this season.
Actually back in the 2014 season at Gowran, Douvan landed a 12 length victory over Sizing John and improved upon that at a Leopardstown meeting this season. In the Racing Post Novice Chase Grade 1 event, Douvan cantered to an 18 length victory over the fences over Sizing John. That’s the power and he followed that up with a return to Leopardstown in January where he beat Velvet Market by fifteen lengths. So for the two mile Arkle Challenge Trophy on Tuesday, March 15th, there doesn’t appear to be anyone to stop Douvan taking the title. The winning distance under 9 lengths is 6/4, while over 11 lengths in 9/4
You have the Rich Ricci, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh combination going again and it should be profitable, at least for them, not so much the punters who are looking at a heavily restrictive 4/11 price on Douvan in the Arkle 2016. Really, in a field which lacks any kind of depth, the only one likely to even raise an eyebrow is Vaniteux, trained by Arkle leading trainer Nicky Henderson and ridden by Arkle leading jockey Barry Geraghty.
He has put in some good showing this season, notably against Ar Mad at Kempton in December last year, finishing second to the tough competition. He has been travelling well and showing signs over the jumps that he has gotten out of his end of season 2015 funk. He is looking sprightly and has looks well condition and it will help his cause in the race if the pace is near the top mark. But again, while you are looking at a very good horse in Vaniteux, it’s hard to put him in the same class as that of Douvan.
So the odds on Douvan winning the Arkle 2016 are 4/11 and not too appealing as a single although as a banker in a multiple, even thinking about a Min (Supreme Novices Hurdle) and Douvan double at 2/1 and 4/11 respectively would fetch £30.91 from a £10 stake leaving you to cash in on a Mullins/Walsh double to kick things off with on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2016.
Arkle 2016 Betting Odds Cheltenham Festival
Douvan 4/11, Vaniteux 5/1, Sizing John 8/1, Garde La Victoire 10/1, The Game Changer 12/1, L’ami Serge 12/1, Shaneshill 14/1, Outlander 16/1, Fox Norton 25/1, Sizing Codelco 33/1, bar 66/1
Sky Bet are offering great coverage at the Cheltenham Festival 2016. If your selection in the first race of each day at the Festival (so the Supreme Novices, Neptune, JLT and Triumph Hurdle) loses then you will get your lost stake back as a free bet, up to the maximum value of £25. Register an account with online betting site Sky Bet and earn a free £20 bet as welcome bonus from them.
