A field of six remain in contention for the Grade 1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown this Saturday 1st February. The contest is one of four Grade 1s set to be run on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend.
It may feature one of the Cheltenham equivalent’s likely favourites in the shape of Majborough for Willie Mullins. The five-year-old won last season’s Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on only his second start for the yard and made a spectacular debut over fences in December when easily beating stablemate Tullyhill at Fairyhouse. This will be the last Graded race in which he gets weight from his elders, with five-year-olds receiving a 2lb allowance in Ireland, as he looks to build towards the Arkle at Cheltenham, in which he is the second favourite to Sir Gino.
Another challenger from Closutton could be Ile Atlantique. In the Energumene colours of owner Tony Bloom, he has won his first two chases by a combined 14 lengths, which included a power-packed success in the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas in January. He defeated Firefox that day, though that rival could reoppose here for Gordon Elliott.
Elliott is double-handed in the contest’s entries, with Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase winner Touch Me Not another in contention. He comes into this race after following up that cosy success with a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
The remaining duo are the giant Jeannot Lapin, who caused a 150/1 shock at Leopardstown on his debut for Gearoid O’Loughlin at Christmas, and sole British raider Here Comes Georgie, a winner in four of his last five handicaps over obstacles.
Irish Arkle 2025 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Firefox | Gordon Elliott |
| 2 | Here Comes Georgie | Patrick Neville |
| 3 | Ile Atlantique | Willie Mullins |
| 4 | Jeannot Lapin | Gearoid O’Loughlin |
| 5 | Touch Me Not | Gordon Elliott |
| 6 | Majborough | Willie Mullins |