Only five runners will line up for the 2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy and all eyes will be on Majborough, who is looking for a second Cheltenham Festival success, as last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero aims to claim victory for Willie Mullins. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the Grade 1 contest and picks out his 1-2-3 for the 2:00pm race.
MAJBOROUGH
(Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
A one-and-half length winner over Kargese in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, Majborough was always going to make a better chaser and he showed he had the scope when cruising to victory in a mightily impressive novice chase debut at Fairyhouse, where he beat Tullyhill by over six lengths. Sent to the Grade 1 Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, the five-year-old produced another dominant display and beat Touch Me Not by nine lengths. Now looking to make it three from three over the larger obstacles, the Willie Mullins-trained star is a red-hot favourite to claim the crown and looks the one to beat.
L’EAU DU SUD
(Harry Skelton/Dan Skelton)
With a perfect four wins from four starts over fences, L’Eau Du Sud for Dan Skelton will fly the flag for the British and he will be looking to put the pressure on Majborough from the flag fall. Second in the County Hurdle last season, the seven-year-old has blossomed over fences and a Grade 1 win in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown showed he’s entitled to be a player in this contest. Likely to be sent to the front from the outset, Harry Skelton will be looking to the pressure on from the outside and with his jumping appearing to be sound then he could put Majborough under the cosh. However, whether he can maintain it all the way, is what is under scrutiny.
JANGO BAIE
(Nico De Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
Not out of the first two in seven starts, Jango Baie could be the fly in the ointment to the front two in the betting, as Nicky Henderson’s star is yet to show his full ability over fences and he’s one that could be a bit of a surprise package. A fine six-and-a-half length winner on chase debut at Cheltenham, he was then beaten a short head by the classy Handstands in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown. That is decent form and he could be one that looks to stalk the front-runners here before unleashing his challenge as they turn for home.
THE FIELD
Gordon Elliott’s Touch Me Not has been beaten by L’Eau Du Sud and Majborough on his last two starts and in both of those defeats he been comfortably dispatched, so it’s going to be tough for him to turn the form around with the pair of them. Gavin Cromwell’s mare Only By Night is three from three over fences, but she’s been winning minor events at the likes of Cork and Exeter, so she will need to show a whole new level of form here to feature.
VERDICT
It’s hard to look past the classy MAJBOROUGH, who appears to be one of the brightest National Hunt stars in recent times and last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero can deliver the goods once again and claim a second Cheltenham Festival win. L’Eau Du Sud will look to put pressure on the Irish raider, but may pay for his early exertions and tire late on, so Jango Baie can claim second spot, with Only By Night grabbing third position.
2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy 1-2-3
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