Arkle Challenge Betting 2011

The Arkle Challenge Trophy will be the 40th run of the race since it became a staple part of the Cheltenham Festival in 1969. A number of strong horses are already emerging as favourites for this Grade 1 race over two miles and twelve fences.

The Arkle is not the most talked about race on the opening day of the festival, which means there is plenty of value to be had and space for an upset. There will be a rich mix of horses in the race from Germany, France, Ireland and more that can challenge for the Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011.

Contenders for the Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011

Finians Rainbow has led the market to win the Arkle 2011 over the last few weeks. The eight-year-old Bay Gelding already has an impressive five career wins over similar distances and looks a good price at 9/2 for victory. The horse is also ridden by the vast experience of Barry Geraghty. Geraghty has developed a balanced and tested riding style with this horse.

The second favourite contender for the Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011 is a horse from Germany called Ghizao. Ghizao is a seven-year-old Bay Gelding trained by Paul Nichols and regularly jockeyed by Timmy Murphy. This horse has an impressive win rate of just over 50 per cent and is famous for having a very strong finish over this middle distance type of race. Ghizao is a 5/1 contender.

Medermit is a seven-year-old French Grey Gelding that not a lot of people will be paying much attention to at Cheltenham this year. However, the Alan King trained horse stands a very good chance of winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011 because a lot of time has been put into this horse. Medermit is 12/1 for a sixth career win and looks a very good bet to place with each way.

Captain Chris is a contender for the Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011 after shortening a great deal in the betting. The six-year-old Bay Gelding secured two second place finished late on in 2010 to give Philip Hobbs a real chance of success in this race. Captain Chris has come into 14/1 after being at 30s and longer.

Jonjo O'Neill has been keeping his head down with Rock Noir as the French Bay Gelding finished 2010 with a win. This horse is much younger than the rest of the field at five-years-old and has only raced five times, placing all but once. All of the indications point towards Rock Noir being the best each way bet of this race at 33/1 despite the extra weight that will have to be carried.

Everyone likes a rank outsider to come through and upset the field at a big festival. Bellvano is a seven-year-old German Bay Gelding from the stable of Nicky Henderson. This horse is not fancied as a contender for the Arkle Challenge Trophy 2011 but with four career wins and a best price of 40/1, the potential is there for a huge upset.