ARKLE CHASE MARKET SHAKEN UP AFTER ANTE-POST FAVOURITE INJURED

Festival Fans
January 27, 2022

Ante-post Arkle favourite Ferny Hollow has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival with a 'suspensory ligament injury'.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was just 6/4 for the 2-mile novices' chase.

Winner of the Champion Bumper in 2020, he won his debut over hurdles the following season - beating no less than Bob Olinger.

But he then spent over a year on the sidelines with a stress fracture.

He looked to have lost none of his ability judged by recent comeback races, winning his chasing debut at Punchestown, then a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

But today Mullins revealed the lastest setback for his seemingly fragile gelding:

‘HE CAME HOME VERY SORE AFTER LEOPARDSTOWN AND WE GAVE HIM A BREAK. HE STARTED BACK CANTERING AND HE GOT SORE AGAIN, SO WE’VE DECIDED TO PUT THIS SEASON ON HOLD’

LATEST ARKLE ODDS

He has now been replaced at the top of the 2022 Arkle betting market by stablemate Blue Lord, who is around 11/4 (from 5/1).

That is just ahead of the Alan King trained Edwardstone - who is now 3/1 generally.

A faller at the last in last year's Supreme, when set to finish second, Blue Lord looks a natural chaser - winning both of his starts this season decisively.

Eight-year-old Edwardstone has won three of 5 starts over fences, including the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown.

And he was last seen taking the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton.

Third favourite, at 6/1 generally, is now the Gordon Elliott trained mare Riviere d'Etel - who was available at 33/1 in November.

Winner of her first three starts over fences, she then tested Ferny Hollow in the novice chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, albeit in receipt of 13lb as a four-year-old.

No longer a filly, she could face Blue Lord in next week's Irish Arkle at Leopardstown.