The second race of the Cheltenham Festival is the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, the first contest over fences at the meeting. Our betting experts have compiled some tips for this race, and we can also share details around some of the best betting offers currently available from betting sites.
This year’s Arkle has a real Anglo-Irish duel feel to it, with Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba and the Willie Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes jostling at the top of the market since declarations were made on Sunday.
Arkle Chase betting offers & free bets
One of the best sign up offers available for the Arkle Chase is from Paddy Power, who are offering you £60 in free bets for Cheltenham, whilst Sky Bet’s sign up offer gives you £50 in free bets.
You can also receive £40 in free bets from the Cheltenham BOYLE Sports sign up offer as well.
| Best Horse Betting Sites | Arkle Chase Betting Offers |
| Paddy Power | £60 in free bets when you bet £10 on Cheltenham |
| BOYLE Sports | Get £40 in free bets & money back as a free bet if your horse loses in the first race at Cheltenham |
| Sky Bet | £50 in free bets when you place a £1 bet |
| Betfred | £40 in free bets when you bet £10 |
| BetMGM | Bet £10 get £40 in free bets |
| William Hill | Bet £10, get £40 in free bets |
| Tote | Money Back as a free bet up to £10 on Supreme Novices’ |
Arkle Chase betting offers & free bets – Key T&Cs:
- Paddy Power: New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on Cheltenham on odds of min EVS (2.0), get 6x £10 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Pay by Bank, Apple Pay or Debit Card will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
- BOYLE Sports: 18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply
- Sky Bet: New customers only. £5 minimum deposit. First minimum £1 single, e/w, or multis bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 5 x £10 bet tokens. Free bets for multiples only. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. 7 Day free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org #ad
- Betfred: New customers only. 00:00 06/03/26 – 23:59 13/03/26. Register with FRED40, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £20 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Acca Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment exclusions & T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org
- BetMGM: New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
- William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply.. www.begambleaware.org #ad
- Tote: Online cash bets only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Opt-in required. Place a cash win or EW bet on the first race at Cheltenham Festival (1.20pm) on 10/03/2026 and receive the equivalent value up to £/€10 in Tote Credit if the selection comes second, third or fourth. Applies to customers’ first cash win and win part of EW bets only per race. If fewer than five runners come under starters orders the offer will be withdrawn. Credited within 24 hours of bet settlement. 7-day expiry. Full T&C’s apply. 18+. Gambleaware.org.Full T&Cs apply.
Arkle Chase Betting Tips
A field of seven contenders will do battle in the Arkle (2.00) at Cheltenham on Tuesday afternoon and my NAP and Next Best for the two-mile novice chasing championship contest are below.
Lulamba uneasy atop the betting
Nicky Henderson has won this race a record eight times, most recently with Jango Baie last year, and the Seven Barrows chief has followed a typical path with LULAMBA this season.
Winner of the Henry VII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December on his second start over the larger obstacles, Lulamba stepped out of novice company to win the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month, something Henderson achieved with Sprinter Sacre and Altior before they won this event.
That was impressive in the end but his early jumping wasn’t inspiring in nature and going to the fifth last obstacle, Nico de Boinville’s partner looked in a degree of trouble.
He responded well, stayed on strongly and won by more than six-lengths at the line. He won’t want a similarly slow start in the jumping department here. He is being challenged by the Irish raider for favouritism and it might be that Mullins’ machine gets rolling again.
Kopek coming for glory
Even the dogs on the street got wind of the fact that KOPEK DES BORDES turned on the style in his most recent proper schooling event in Ireland. It was, say those close to the Mullins a camp, a race without a race.
Substituting proper racing experience doesn’t always work and it has to be some worry we haven’t seen him since his facile chasing debut success at Navan in November when he put a useful rival in Lovely Hurling away with real aplomb.
Following that strong start, he was odds-on for this race but his inactivity since meant he drifted while others showed their wares.
Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this card a year ago, he blew out at Punchestown on his final start last spring.
That aside he is unblemished in five racecourse outings, including his defeat of William Munny in the Supreme here last March, with Romeo Coolio behind in third acting as a very reliable barometer for that form.
Gordon Elliott’s charge is 4-4 over fences this season including the Irish Arkle and would have been a major contender here but connections have gone the three-mile route in the Brown Advisory instead.
Kargese, inched out by Romeo Coolio in that Irish Arkle at last month’s DRF, should set the sort of strong pace that will help offset any worries about stablemate Kopek Des Bordes being keen early doors.
With six Arkle successes since 2015, Mullins is closing rapidly on Henderson’s record tally. We could see a wow moment from Kopek Des Bordes, who has shown in his short career that such things are in his armoury.
- Arkle Chase Betting Tip 1: NAP: Kopek Des Bordes @ 7/4
- Brand new sportsbook launched, offering far more than just horse racing
- Benefit from the unique Tote dividend as an alternative to normal fixed odds betting
Steel Ally one for a big run
The big pair dominate the market and, with just seven runners, punters seeking an each-way alternative are in a pickle with just two places.
Kargese is next best in the betting but she had a tough race at the DRF and could pay for it late on.
Mambonumberfive has progressed all season for Ben Pauling but had no answer to STEEL ALLY in the Kingmaker at Warwick last time, beaten as he was 27-lengths in the end.
Sam Thomas’ contender is one of two eight-year-old’s featuring here and he has shown a real aptitude for fencing in his wins at Carlisle, Ascot and Warwick.
The Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot in December was an exemplary round from him and while he likes to race handily, he won’t have to force matters and should get a good pace to follow in front. He stays further than this minimum trip and looks like one to outrun his odds.
- Arkle Chase Betting Tip 2: Next Best: Steel Ally @ 12/1
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