Festival race preview: Racing Post Arkle

The 2014 Arkle is a more open betting heat than it has been in the last couple of years, which have both been landed by odds-on favourites (2013: Simonsig 8/15f, 2012: Sprinter Sacre 8/11f).

Willie Mullins’ Champagne Fever (3/1) heads the betting and is 2/2 in wins/runs at the Cheltenham Festival.

But not far behind – all at 5/1 – are Trifolium (Charles Byrnes), Dodging Bullets (Paul Nicholls) and Rock On Ruby (Harry Fry).

Trainer Alan King won this race two years running with Voy Por Ustedes (2006) and My Way De Solzen (2007) and Valdez (9/1) should not be dismissed in 2014.