RACING anorak Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) analyses the field for Tuesday’s second race from the Cheltenham Festival, the Arkle Chase.
Arkle Chase | Tuesday 13th March 2019, 14:10 | ITV1
The Arkle is one of my favourite races of the week but this year’s renewal does not excite me at all, and it’s actually a confusing looking race, to me. There is nothing in this that screams superstar material and it’s a very below par race, in my opinion.
Glen Forsa (9/2 Betway) has been a revelation this season with wins over two miles, two-and-a-half miles and three miles, winning a Grade 2 chase in the process. He is improving and is the one to beat here, but I’m not sure what he beat last time (1/4 favourite Kalashnikov at Sandown, who hates going right-handed) and is a bit short in the market for my liking.
Lalor (13/2 Unibet) is a course and distance winner, and a Grade 1 winning hurdler but I suspect he may struggle here. His best form is on decent ground and with the rain arriving he may find this beyond him.
I’m taking a chance on a bigger-priced runner in the shape of the Joseph O’Brien-trained Us And Them (14/1 BetVictor). He has chased home Hardline a few times and looks held by him but I see him as a good place option.
He is likely to be dropped out of the race and look to pick up the pieces late on, and with a couple of front runners here, it could fall apart late on and I’ll take a chance on him, especially with some bookies offering four places.
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Arkle Chase – Us And Them each-way (14/1 BetVictor)
