Cheltenham 2025: Arkle Race Trends You Should Not Ignore

The Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival is a premier event that attracts top novice chasers from both sides of the Irish Sea.

While analysing trends can provide valuable insights for punters, it's crucial to assess which ones are worth following, and which might be misleading.

In this article, we take a look at the top five trends you should keep in mind for the 2025 Arkle.

Favourites Usually Flourish

The Arkle has seen favourites perform exceptionally well in recent years, with nine of the last 12 winners going off as favourites with betting sites to win the race.

Betting on outsiders to upset the field has historically been a less successful strategy, as you have to go back to Western Warhorse in 2014 for the last double-figure priced winner of the race.

So, it pays to stick to the top of the market, and this year's renewal looks no different.

Age Important

Historically, the Arkle has been dominated by younger horses, particularly those aged six or seven.

Eleven of the last 12 winners fell within this age bracket, but you should not ignore five or eight-year-olds.

Since 2002, three eight-year-olds have won the race: Moscow Flyer, Sizing Europe and Edwardstown, who all went on to be top two-mile chasers.

You have to go back to 2006 for the last five-year-old winner of the Arkle, but between 1998 and 2006, four five-year-olds won the race. 

Majborough, favourite with betting apps for this year's race, will be hoping to buck this particular trend.

Jumping Is The Name Of The Game 

Jumping is the name of the game, and the Arkle is no different from any race at Cheltenham, although there is more emphasis on jumping in a two-mile novice chase.

This will be one of the week's fastest races, and it's best to focus on runners who gain ground over their obstacles.

Although form in the book is important, it's best to back horses with a proven solid jumping technique in the Arkle.

Mullins And Henderson Dominate

Both Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have dominated the Arkle in recent times.

Nicky Henderson has won the race seven times with some of the best two-milers we have ever seen, such as Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin.

The Mullins camp is just one behind him with six wins, and they will be hoping to make it seven wins a piece with the heavy odds-on favourite with horse racing betting sites, Majborough, this year.

The pair have made the Arkle a private battle, but other trainers have been able to get in the mix.

Alan King has won the race three times, while Henry de Bromhead has won it twice so don’t discount a horse based on his trainer alone.