The Willie Mullins-trained Majborough is now the standout name amongst the 19 horses entered for the 2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival after Sir Gino was ruled out for the season with an infection to his hind leg. One of the feature Grade 1 races taking place on Tuesday 11th March, we take a look at the horses that could take their chance.

Sir Gino may have been the primary talking horse of the contest, but Majborough, who cruised to a six-and-a-half length win over Tullyhill at Fairyhouse in December, only emphasised his potential with a crushing win at the Dublin Racing Festival in the Irish Arkle in February. An excellent winner of the Triumph Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, Majborough made the most of the absence of Sir Gino then to land that Grade 1 prize and with a fine win on chasing debut he could be one that lays it down to the Seven Barrows inmate and the pair dominate the ante-post betting.

L’Eau Du Sud is three from three over fences for Dan Skelton and beat Touch Me Not impressively in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and he could be another flying the flag for the British-trained runners, while The Jukebox Man, Springwell Bay and Gidleigh Park have all be entered for the Arkle, but could potentially head elsewhere at the Cheltenham Festival

Jango Baie was a winner at Cheltenham on his last start and could be the first string for the Henderson team now that Sir Gino has been ruled out; he is one of the more eye-catching entries.
2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy Entries
Number | Horse | Trainer |
1 | Ballyburn | Willie Mullins |
2 | Caldwell Potter | Paul Nicholls |
3 | Dee Capo | Gordon Elliott |
4 | Fascile Mode | Thomas Mullins |
5 | Firefox | Gordon Elliott |
6 | Gidleigh Park | Harry Fry |
7 | Jango Baie | Nicky Henderson |
8 | Jeannot Lapin | Gearoid O’Loughlin |
9 | Jordans | Joseph O’Brien |
10 | Kalif Du Berlais | Paul Nicholls |
11 | L’Eau Du Sud | Dan Skelton |
12 | Majborough | Willie Mullins |
13 | Nibiru | Jack Jones |
14 | San Salvador | Joseph O’Brien |
15 | Springwell Bay | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
16 | Touch Me Not | Gordon Elliott |
17 | What’s Up Darling | Gordon Elliott |
18 | Birdie Or Bust | Henry De Bromhead |
19 | Only By Night | Gavin Cromwell |
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