Grade Two SSS Super Alloys Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Stakes 2023 Guide

The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero stable is in excellent form at present, and they send the progressive Homme Public to Cheltenham on Friday. The six-year-old made an impressive chasing debut at Wetherby in October, beating Geromino by just over a length.

He will likely shape better over the distance this week, but he won’t be afforded the same luxury of a mishap at the last as he did on his previous start. Henry Brooke takes the ride this week, and a clear case can be made for this runner on his first start over two miles.

JPR One represents the Joe Tizzard stable at Cheltenham this weekend, with Brendan Powell taking the ride. The six-year-old was an impressive winner on chase debut at the end of October, beating Monviel by two lengths on testing ground at Newton Abbot.

He had some interesting runners behind on that day, including Iceo, who looked very impressive himself on chase debut. That form looks the most solid on paper, and the expected ground this week at Cheltenham makes him the standout choice.

The runner for Cian Collins in the Arkle Trial on Friday is eight-year-old Mighty Tom. He is yet to win over the larger obstacles, and he was last seen finishing a very distant second over two miles and four at Cork behind Letsbeclearaboutit.

That run came on November 5, meaning that this is a pretty swift turnaround, but he could benefit from being back over two miles.

He did have a standout run over the same distance over hurdles in August, finishing six lengths behind the progressive Shecouldbeanything. But, others have more progressive reputations this weekend.

Jonjo O’Neill has been churning out winners at a solid rate over the opening months of the National Hunt season, and he unleashes novice chaser Petit Tonnerre this week. Jonjo O’Neill Jr takes the ride on the five-year-old.

The runner has been off the track for an extended period, as he was last seen at the Festival in March finishing seventh of 24 in the County Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one. His best form has come on good ground, but that previous effort does offer optimism that he may handle soft conditions. Friday will be his chase debut, but he does have an interesting profile.