War Of Attrition leads Arkle field
War Of Attrition heads a field of 19 runners for tomorrow’s Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.
The Mouse Morris-trained Irish raider tops the market for the Grade One event after winning both his starts over fences this season.
The six-year-old will be making a second trip to Cheltenham after finishing runner-up to Brave Inca in a thrilling renewal of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago.
Although he was an impressive winner at Naas last time, War Of Attrition had a long time off the track after his successful debut at Thurles.
“He had a fracture after winning at Thurles. It ended up being minor but he was stood in his box for six weeks and he had only been back in training for six weeks when he won in Naas,” Morris told At The Races.
War Of Attrition will be having only his ninth career start tomorrow and Morris admits that is a worry against some more experienced rivals.
“There’s no question that he’s something special. It’s just his inexperience would be a slight mark against him for tomorrow,” he said.
“He travelled over today, he’s well and I’m looking forward to him running in the race.”
War Of Attrition is part of a seven-strong Irish challenge with Noel Meade’s pair of Watson Lake and Sir Oj taking their chances along with Ned Kelly, Steel Band, Ulaan Baatar and Mariah Rollins.
Martin Pipe’s Contraband leads the home defence along with the Noel Chance-trained River City.
Limerick Boy, who ran in the Champion Hurdle last year, makes a quick reappearance after winning the Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton last time.
The seven-year-old is a general 25-1 shot but Andy Clifton, managing director of owners Favourites Racing, believes he could be a value bet.
He said: “Limerick Boy is in the form of his life. The only question mark is the track, although he was fifth at Cheltenham in a novice hurdle only five days after making his hurdling debut, and ran well until the top of the hill despite losing two shoes in last year’s Champion Hurdle.
“If the Arkle was run on a flat track like Kempton or Newbury he would be half the price he is now. I think 20 or 25-1 is way too big.”
Paul Nicholls relies on My Will, winner of the “Dipper” Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in January, while last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Made In Japan will represent Philip Hobbs.
Ashley Brook, Kadount, Supreme Developer, The Last Cast, Town Crier, Mambo Des Mottes and Mondul complete the declarations.
