2020-03-10 Cheltenham 2:10 - Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Class1) £98,473 Soft 1m7f199y

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Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Ratings view)

Just the 11 runners but on official ratings just 4 pound covers the top six rated.
Notebook 158, Rouge Vif 157, Global Citizen 156, Cash Back 156, Esprit Du Large 155, Fakir D'oudairies 154

Top rated Notebook is unbeaten over fences including a Grade 2 and two Grade 1's. Beat the 151 rated Moon Over Germany 5l, then in a Grade 1 beat Fakir D'oudairies (then rated 157 – now 154) giving him 7 lb and a 1½L beating. Last time he had a right tussle with Cash Back eventually beating him by ¾l. Good jumper.

Rouge Vif is grade 2 winner over hurdles when rated 142. 4th of 4 in in a Cheltenham Grade 2 novice chase in November - had wind surgery - 2nd in a grade 2 at Kempton 1½l behind the 156 rated Global Citizen, upped to 150 for next start when slamming the 153 rated Nube Negra 7l in a Warwick Grade 2 his 157 rating is based in the 3rd and 4th Precious Cargo 145 and Moonlighter 143 beaten 12½ and 14½l and looks solid.

Cash Back has a close formline with Notebook so his 156 again looks reasonable.

Global Citizen is a 159 rated hurdler who has a close formline with Rouge Vif so it's 156 looks reasonable.

Esprit Du Large beat Nube Negra 1¾l pulling well clear of the 152 rated Grand Sancy and was given a 155 based in that run - Nube Negra given 153. Might be 2 -3 pounds too high.

Fakir D'oudairies is only a 5yo and finished 4th in last years Supreme Novices' Hurdle and ended up on a rating of 149. Beat Melon on debut, then winning a grade 1 at Fairyhouse but difficult to gauge the value of the form but given a rating of 157. 2nd to Notebook as mention earlier LTO and dropped to 154.