The 2026 Arkle Chase has the feel of a race that has been building all season.
Final declarations confirmed a field of seven, however, Mambonumberfive has now been declared a non runner.
Despite this, Tuesday’s 2:00pm still looks set to offer a sharp, classy test of novice chasing on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Run over two miles on the Old Course, the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy is traditionally a race for quick, accurate jumpers who can travel at championship pace and still find up the hill. It is often where next season’s Champion Chase contenders first make their mark.
This year’s renewal has the familiar look of a Mullins versus Henderson clash. Between them, they run three of the seven, including the two at the head of the market.
The quality at the top is strong, but there’s enough depth further down to suggest one or two could outrun their prices if things get lively up front.
How the Field Has Shaped Up
As the season developed, it became clear that Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba were likely to set the standard, and the final declarations have confirmed that narrative.
They are joined by Hansard, Jax Junior, Steel Ally, and Kargese in a compact but interesting field of six.
Some notable early-season names did not make it this far, either through injury or being rerouted to other Festival targets, which has sharpened the focus on the horses who have actually stood their ground.
What we are left with is a race that looks relatively straightforward on paper, with two standout contenders, a well-fancied second string from Mullins, and a trio of chasers who will hope to exploit any mistakes or tactical misjudgements.
The balance of the field is also tactically intriguing. Hansard and Jax Junior bring solid handicap and graded form, but will be stepping up to this level against rivals who have been campaigned with Festival Grade 1s in mind from the outset.
Steel Ally and Kargese both arrive with something to recommend them, whether that’s a strong piece of form, a progressive profile, or a trainer with a good record at the meeting.
2026 Arkle Chase Odds
*Odds from Betfred correct at time of publication.
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kopek Des Bordes | Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 11/8 |
| Lulamba | N de Boinville | N J Henderson | 13/8 |
| Kargese | Danny Mullins | W P Mullins | 11/2 |
| Steel Ally | Dylan Johnston | S Thomas | 12/1 |
| Jax Junior | Tom Cannon | L Wadham | 20/1 |
| Hansard | Caoilin Quinn | G & J Moore | 80/1 |
Kopek Des Bordes: Mullins’ Sharp Operator
Kopek Des Bordes comes here as the standard-bearer for Willie Mullins. A high-class hurdler, he made a smooth transition to fences and has looked at home over the larger obstacles from an early stage.
He tends to travel strongly and settle well, which is important around the Old Course, where races can be decided by how efficiently a horse jumps and moves through the middle part of the race.
With Paul Townend booked, there’s a sense that Mullins will be happy to let others make the running while Kopek is ridden to pounce after the second last.
The question for him is not so much about raw ability as about pressure. This will be a deeper race than he has faced over fences so far, and any slight error at speed will be more costly.
Still, on what he has shown, he fully deserves to be at or near the head of the betting and is a solid candidate to give his trainer another Arkle.
Lulamba: Henderson’s Unbeaten Chaser
Lulamba is the main rival and arrives with an unbeaten chase record that naturally catches the eye.
Nicky Henderson has been patient with him, placing him carefully through the season, but the way he has won suggests he belongs in this company.
A key part of his appeal is his jumping rhythm. He tends to measure his fences neatly and holds his position without being rushed, which suits the way Nico de Boinville likes to ride around Cheltenham.
Where Kopek Des Bordes brings a touch of flash and a proven Festival record over hurdles, Lulamba offers the profile of a horse still improving with every run.
There are, however, one or two unanswered questions. He is a year younger than Kopek, and this will be the most demanding test of his career in terms of both depth and pace.
How he responds if the race turns tactical, or if he is forced into a battle after the last, is something we will only learn on the day.
Even so, his upward curve, greater chasing experience, and tidy technique over fences make him a very credible alternative to the favourite.
Outsiders and Each-Way Players
While the market concentrates on the big two, there is plenty of interest in the supporting cast.
Steel Ally is one who could easily make his presence felt. He has strung together a sequence over fences and looks the type to enjoy an honest gallop.
His jumping has generally been assured, and he has shown he can find off the bridle, which is never a bad trait to bring to Cheltenham.
Kargese, representing the same yard as Kopek Des Bordes, is another with the potential to get involved. Getting weight from most of the field, she has already demonstrated her ability to handle big-field scenarios and a strong pace.
If things get at all tactical, she could turn into more than a supporting player.
Jax Junior and Hansard look more exposed, but on their day, they are capable of running respectably, particularly if the race falls apart late.
Is It A Two horse Race?
As things stand, the 2026 Arkle looks like a race framed around two high-class novices with contrasting but complementary profiles, backed up by a small group of capable chasers who will hope to cash in on any mistakes.
It has the structure of a proper Festival contest: strong at the top, with enough depth underneath to make the shape of the race interesting.
If Kopek Des Bordes brings his A-game, he sets a very high standard. If Lulamba finds another step forward, his unbeaten chasing record could remain intact.
Steel Ally, Kargese, and one or two of the others are all capable of landing a blow if the front pair fail to fire.
For fans, it promises a sharp, decisive contest early on Tuesday’s card, and whatever happens, the winner is likely to be talked about as a major player in next season’s two-mile division.
BETFRED
