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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Chris Wilson

2026 Arkle Chase odds & betting guide

Jango Baie won the Arkle Chase in 2025 - (Getty Images)

The Arkle Novices’ Chase is traditionally the first chase of each Cheltenham Festival , offering up one of the most prestigious titles for novice chasers in National Hunt racing.

This page features the latest Arkle Chase betting odds for Tuesday’s race, and along with the best prices from horse racing betting sites, punters can find betting trends and stats for the Arkle Chase that might help steer punters towards picking the winner of the day one highlight.

Arkle Chase betting odds

Bettors can find the latest Arkle Novices Chase odds from UK betting sites above. The odds are live, so any changes to the prices made by bookmakers will appear instantly below.

Arkle Chase betting trends

Some of the betting trends discussed below may help bettors make a decision on who to back in the Arkle. These are not Arkle Novice Chase tips, but rather stats and trends that have become visible over recent years.

Key Stats and Trends for the Arkle Chase

Form & Ratings

Form: Out of the last 12 winners of the Arkle, 11 had won their previous outing.

Ratings: The last three winners posted a Timeform rating of 123 or higher.

Cheltenham Experience: Previous experience at Cheltenham can play a massive role in success, with 10 of the last 12 Arkle winners having had at least one run at Prestbury Park.

Notable Races: Success at other major events is always a good indicator of how a horse will perform in the Arkle Chase. Relevant races include the Irish Arkle, the Wayward Lad Novice Chase and the Kingmaker Novice Chase.

Age: Historically, the vast majority of winners have been aged either six or seven. Five-year-olds have an extremely poor record, with virtually no wins since age allowances were removed.

Market Trends

Favourites Perform Well: 10 of the last 14 winners of the Arkle Chase have been favourites to win the race, with seven going off at odds-on.

Short Prices Dominate: The Arkle is not a race for horses with large odds. 2020 winner Put The Kettle On (16/1) is the only double-digit winner of the race since the turn of the millennium.

Trainer Angles

Mullins effect: Willie Mullins has dominated the Arkle over the last 10 years, with the Irishman having trained five winners in the past decade.

Previous Arkle Chase winners

Year

Winner

SP

Trainer

Jockey

2025

Jango Baie

5/1

Nicky Henderson

Nico de Boinville

2024

Gaelic Warrior

2/1

Willie Mullins

Paul Townend

2023

El Fabiolo

11/10 f

Willie Mullins

Paul Townend

2022

Edwardstone

2/1 f

Alan King

Tom Cannon

2021

Shishkin

4/9 f

Nicky Henderson

Nico de Boinville

2020

Put The Kettle On

16/1

Henry de Bromhead

Aidan Coleman

2019

Duc Des Genievres

5/1

Willie Mullins

Paul Townend

2018

Footpad

5/6 f

Willie Mullins

Ruby Walsh

2017

Altior

1/4 f

Nicky Henderson

Nico de Boinville

2016

Douvan

1/4 f

Willie Mullins

Ruby Walsh

Responsible Gambling

If you plan to bet on Arkle Chase markets, make sure to gamble responsibly.

It’s vital that bettors take steps to remain in control of their time and budget when using gambling sites. The same applies whether you’re using the betting sites UK, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium.

Even the most knowledgeable racing punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses.

It’s particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino bonuses you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution.

You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs.

You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:

FAQs

What is the Arkle Novices Chase?

The Arkle Novices Chase is a race open to novice chasers aged five or older, and run at level weights. To qualify as a novice, a horse must not have won a chase race before the start of the current National Hunt season.

When is the Arkle Novices’ Chase?

The Arkle Chase is the first chase event of every Cheltenham Festival, and is usually the second race of the week, after the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

How long is the Arkle Chase?

The race is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, covering 1m 7f 199y (3,499 metres)/2 miles, with horses clearing 13 fences in total.

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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