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| Cheltenham Festival 2010 |
Cheltenham Home 5mq12
The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham on the opening day of The Festival, Tuesday, March 16, after both were among 47 entries for the two-mile championship contest.
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The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe maintained his unbeaten record over fences after Captain Cee Bee fell at the last when travelling ominously well in the Grade One Bord Na Mona Nature Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown in December. Captain Cee Bee’s fall left Osana, runner-up to Katchit in the 2008 Weatherbys Champion Bumper) from the eight from the Willie Mullins yard.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls landed The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy with Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Azertyuiop (2003). He has five entries this year, headed by Tataniano, successful from the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Pigeon Island over the course and distance in the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase on November 15.
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What is shaping to be an epic renewal of the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy could also feature the Henrietta Knight-trained Somersby and a whole bevy of contenders from Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows stable, headed by the outstanding French import, Long Run and the recent Kempton winner Mad Max.
That triple Grade One winner, along with the aforementioned Mullins pair, are also engaged in the Grade One IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE CHASE &
THE RSA CHASE
Citizen Vic
Cousin Vinny
Little Josh
Long Run
Mikael D’Haguenet
Nicanor
Pigeon Island
Quiscover Fontaine
Rory Boy
Shakervilz
Take The Breeze
The Nightingale
Uimhiraceathair
