Arkle Chase 2019 Winner Odds & Predictions

Glen Forsa the big threat in the Arkle

Cheltenham Festival

The popular Arkle Chase is a big feature of the opening day of racing action from the Cheltenham Festival 2019. Open to runners of at least five years of age, it is a two-mile contest with thirteen fences standing in the way of the contenders. This is one of the biggest novices chases in the world as it gives a fantastic preview of potential future Cheltenham Stars in chasing.

Arkle Chase 2019 Winner Odds*

Lalor 7/2
Glen Forsa 9/2
Duc Des Genièvres 6/1
Defi Du Seuil 8/1
Paloma Blue 10/1
Hardline 12/1
Kalashnikov 12/1
Knocknanuss 14/1
Ornua 14/1
Cilaos Emery 16/1
Articulum 20/1
Us And Them 20/1
Voix Du Reve 28/1
Camelia De Cotte 33/1
Mengli Khan 33/1

*( Betting odds taken from bet365 on March 4th, 2019 at 11:10 pm)

Leading the market for in 2019 Arkle betting is Lalor at 7/2 odds*( Betting odds taken from bet365 on March 4th, 2019 at 11:10 pm). The winner will be following in the footsteps of last year’s champion Footpad and this race has given rise to some big names like Altior and Douvan, hugely popular Cheltenham Festival favourites.

This is just an exciting quality field and Lalor will be looking for a big improvement after finishing 12 lengths behind Dynamite Dollar in the Henry VIII Novices in his last run. Punters are going to be putting stock in his ability to turn that form totally on its head. The reason why the belief is there is that he beat Dynamite Dollars in November’s Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham. It was a seven-length victory as well.

But his loss in December’s Sandown meeting perhaps shows the vulnerabilities and his results have been up and down. This will be the first time out for the seven-year-old at the Cheltenham Festival. Glen Forsa is hot on his heels for Mick Channon and has been gaining support as well. In his last showing at Sandown, he powered away to a 19 length victory without even breaking a sweat in the race. He is 9/2 to follow up with a win at the Cheltenham Festival 2019*( Betting odds taken from bet365 on March 4th, 2019 at 11:10 pm).

Also trading well is Paloma Blue who looks a bit rough around the edges really but collected a Chase win at Leopardstown recently. It was a strong race he put in there but it was out of the blue as he wasn’t in any kind of form before that run. So it remains to be seen if that is his true colours or just a one off big showing on the day. He will be up against much stiffer opposition as well at the Cheltenham Festival 2019 than he was at Leopardstown.

Kalashnikov could show well because he has been producing some very good jumping form. He came home second in last year’s Supreme Novices at Cheltenham so knows what he’s up against on the course. His best finish though making him a good 12/1 each way option in the field was his impressive victory at the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury*( Betting odds taken from bet365 on March 4th, 2019 at 11:10 pm). With the Cheltenham course a good fit for his style, he could well run into the picture again.

Arkle 2019 Predictions

The outside challenge of Kalashnikov has some good appeal. He just kept going and going in last year’s Supreme and a year on should be stronger for a positive finish. Favourite Lalor has that air of unpredictability about him and it’s Glen Forsa who really looks the big threat here.