Horse Racing Betting Tips: Glen a Forsa to be reckoned with as he chases Arkle glory
THIS year’s renewal of the Racing Post Arkle Chase (2.10pm) has a far more wide-open look to it than we have been used to in recent seasons.
Most bookmakers are struggling to find a clear favourite with four horses all battling it out to be sent off the market leader.
When you consider that six of the past seven winners have gone off odds-on, it shows you how open this year’s race is, with plenty of firms offering 4/1 the field this morning.
The most talented horse in the line-up is almost certainly Lalor and there won’t be a dry eye in the house if he was to win for Kayley Woollacott who was tragically widowed last year.
Winner of the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last year, the seven-year- old made an impressive start to his chasing career when winning the Grade Two trial for this race last November.
That was followed by a slightly below par run in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown the following month where he was beaten some way from home.
Connections blamed a combination of the really soft ground and too quick a return to the racecourse for that dis appointment, and we are likely to see him in a better light now.
He has been weak in the betting in recent days as plenty of rain has hit Cheltenham, but he has form on soft ground and that doesn’t concern me as much as it does some.
The only thing that puts me off is his lack of match practice as this will be only his third start over fences and his first in 2019.
His class may well get him through, but I was so taken with GLEN FORSA’s recent jumping display at Sandown that I’m siding with him at a best-priced 9/2.
Mick Channon is better known for saddling runners at Royal Ascot rather than Cheltenham, but the retirement of Henrietta Knight a few years ago opened the door for him to train some jumpers.
Tim Radford, whose colours will be carried by Glen Forsa, had horses like Somersby with Knight and they have since all been switched to Channon.
Last year, they tasted Festival success with Mister Whitaker on the opening day and they return to Cheltenham with more chances of glory.
None will have bigger claims than Glen Forsa who began his chasing career in an ordinary-looking handicap at Chepstow in November off a mark of just 114.
Further success followed at Kempton on Boxing Day and he took the step up into Graded company in his stride when outjumping Kalashnikov in the Kingmaker.
On paper he has plenty to prove in this Grade One company, but I haven’t seen a novice jump as well as him in years.
His ability to stay a lot further than this two-mile trip and handle soft ground are huge positives, and it will take a good one to lower his colours.
When planning this column this time last week, I was pretty certain to be tipping up Hardline as the each-way alternative to the front three.
However, the 10/1 on offer then has long gone and at 5/1 he makes slightly less appeal.
He is another proven on soft ground and the drop back to this trip should suit too.
There isn’t much between him and Glen Forsa at the head of the market now, so for that reason I’ll stick with the former.
There appears to be plenty of pace in the race with the likes of Knocknanuss, Ornua and even Duc Des Genievres in attendance.
The latter flies the flag for Willie Mullins who has saddled three of the last four winners of this race.
However, front-running tactics seemed to help him last time and it won’t be easy to dominate this field.
With no hiding place, it is likely to play to the strengths of the closers like Glen Forsa, Lalor and Hardline, with my preference going to the best jumper.
POINTERS
Glen Forsa 2.10pm Cheltenham