Arkle Novices' Chase Trends: Cheltenham Festival 2026

By James Stoddart

Feb 16th, 2026 8:51 AM EST

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Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase 2026 Trends

Need some help finding the winner of the 2026 edition of The Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase? Well, look no further because our team of experts at Bookies.com have done the hard work for you by pinpointing the most critical trends and pointers from the last 10 renewals in order to help you find the winner of the two-mile Grade 1 novice event.

Free Bet Offers for the 2026 Arkle Chase

Of the Last 10 Winners:

• All 10 had won at least once over fences (five were unbeaten).
• All 10 had won previously under the same rider.
• Nine were either 6 or 7 years old (Edwardstone 8).
• Eight won on their last start (Gaelic Warrior - Unseated, Jango Baie - second).
• Nine had winning chase form on a left-handed track (Gaelic Warrior unseated on only attempt).
• Nine won or placed in a Grade 2 race or better (Duc Des Genievres).
• Nine had four or fewer starts over fences (Put The Kettle On).
• Nine had run at Cheltenham before. (El Fabiolo).
• Seven went off favourite (Put the Kettle on 16/1, Duc Des Genievres 5/1, Jango Baie 5/1).

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Last 10 Arkle Novice Chase Winners

Key Arkle Chase Trials From the Last 10 Years

The Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton in December, though run on a right-handed course, is growing in status as one of the key trials for the Arkle with two winners thrown up since 2021 (Shishkin 2021 and Edwardstone 2022).

Each of those Arkle winners won the Wayward Lad, and two recent winners of the race won one more Grade 1 novices' chase before rocking up at Cheltenham. The 2022 Wayward Lad winner was Boothill, but he did not run in the Arkle. The 2023 winner was Master Chewy, but he was well-beaten subsequently in a Grade 2 at Lingfield. Sir Gino won the race in fine style in 2024 and went favourite for the Arkle, but injury ruled him out for the season. Mambonumberfive won this season's edition, but it looks like a weak renewal as he can be backed at any price you like.

The Irish Arkle, run in early February, is a key trial with three winners, who were all trained by Willie Mullins, and four places coming from the race in the last 10 years. Energumeme won the Irish Arkle in 2021 but skipped Cheltenham to win at Punchestown in April. The 2022 Irish Arkle winner, Blue Lord, finished second in the Arkle at Cheltenham. El Fabiolo won both races in 2023. Stablemate Il Etait Temps won in 2024. Majborough won in 2025 and was let down by his jumping when finishing third. Romeo Coolio won what was essentially a match with Kargese this year by a neck, so both of those come into Cheltenham with strong claims.

2020 Arkle winner Put The Kettle On won the Grade 2 Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in November 2019 but didn’t run again until the Festival in March. Eldorado Allen won the same race in 2020 and finished second in the 2021 Arkle at 33/1. It was won by Third Time Lucki in 2021, who did not run at Cheltenham, nor did 2022 winner Banbridge. It was won by Homme Public in 2023, and he’s since been beaten in a handicap. The 2024 edition was won by L'Eau Du Sud who finished fourth of five in the Arkle.

The 2025 edition was again won by a mare in the shape of July Flower, who like Put The Kettle On will attempt to use the mares' allowance to pick up an unlikely victory.

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Trainer Trends

Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have dominated recent Arkle Chases, with eight winners between them in the last 10 years (five of them for Mullins). Alan King and Henry de Bromhead are the only other trainers to have won the race in the last 10 years.

You should keep a close eye on anything that Alan King runs. The trainer has only entered seven runners in the race since 2004 and has picked up the trophy three times. Winning with Voy Por Ustedes, My Way De Solzen and Edwardstone.

Jockey Trends

Predictably, Ruby Walsh and Paul Townend have great records in the race, but it also goes to show you should be backing the shortest priced Willie Mullins runner in the race. If a Mullins horse has won the race in the last 10 years it has done so with the stable's top jockey on board.

Nico de Boinville also has a fine record in the Arkle with three winners and two places from just five Arkle rides.

Aidan Coleman has a win (Put The Kettle On) and a place from only five Arkle rides.

Paul Townend got his third win in the race on Gaelic Warrior in 2024.

How Did the Trends Do Last Year?

Applying the key trends whittled the field down to only two main protagonists, Sir Gino and Majborough. Sir Gino, of course, didn't run and Majborough forgot how to jump at the back end of the contest and finished third. Jango Baie bucked the trends to pick up the win, but it probably isn't too big a stretch to imagine Sir Gino would have picked up the win had he been fit.

However, Jango Baie was still trained by Nicky Henderson and had won over fences going left handed at Cheltenham. The fact he was beaten on his previous start meant he didn't fit a number of the key trends. In fact. he was only the second horse to win the race who didn't win on his last start for 16 years.

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2025 Arkle Novices' Chase Result

Who Fits The Trends Best In 2026?

Applying the key Arkle Novices' Chase trends narrows down the possible field again to two main horses of interest - the current favourite Lulamba and Romeo Coolio.

Lulamba ticks most of the key trends boxes as he is trained by one of the race’s most successful trainers in Nicky Henderson, and will in all likelihood go off favourite for the race. He hasn't won one of the more recent key trials by winning the Game Spirit, but it was good enough for Altior and Sprinter Sacre, so it is a tried and tested Henderson route.

The only real question mark is over his age. Five-year-olds do not have the greatest record in the Arkle since the weight for age allowance was scrapped in 2008. However, quite simply not many five-years-olds are this good.

The other trends pick is Romeo Coolio, who has a profile very similar to many of the Irish winners of the race. He will come into the race unbeaten over fences with two left-handed chase wins to his name, fits the age profile and has the required number of races over fences to his name. The only issue here is Gordon Elliott has never won the race.

2026 Arkle Chase Odds

Cheltenham Festival 2026 Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day One Trends

• Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Arkle Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Trends
• Ultima Handicap Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Festival Plate Handicap Trends
• National Hunt Novices' Chase Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Two Trends

• Turners Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Trends
• Coral Cup Trends
• Cheltenham Cross Country Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Chase Trends
• Grand Annual Chase Trends
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Cheltenham Festival Day Three Trends

• Cheltenham Mares' Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
• Cheltenham Mares' Hurdle Trends
• Stayers' Hurdle Trends
• Ryanair Chase Trends
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Cheltenham Festival Day Four Trends

• Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Trends
• Triumph Hurdle Trends
• County Hurdle Trends
• Mares' Chase Trends
• Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends
• Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase Trends

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About the Author

James Stoddart

More About James

Born in Liverpool, James is an LFC fan and season ticket holder. He's got an interest in playing and watching most sports including golf, darts, football and horse racing. As a keen punter, he's always on the lookout for value and loves spotting something at a big price that fits the trends. He applies this to online casino too, and is always looking to beat the house.

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