Arkle Challenge Trophy 2025 - Can Majborough claim a second Cheltenham Festival win?
The 2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival is set to be a thrilling event, despite the withdrawal of Sir Gino due to injury. Majborough, who has shown explosive power in previous races, is the favorite after an impressive win in the Irish Arkle. L'Eau du Sud, with a brilliant jumping record this season, stands as a strong contender. Jango Baie, rerouted due to Sir Gino's absence, has already won over Cheltenham fences. Each contender presents unique strengths, but Majborough's class and proven track record make him the leading choice.
- Free guide to the 2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy
- This race will take place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 11th March
- Majborough features in our verdict
The first Grade One to be held over fences at the Cheltenham Festival is the Arkle Challenge Trophy. This race was named in honour of arguably the best National Hunt horse of all time, Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times during his illustrious career.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.
*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*
2025 Arkle Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Majborough | 8/13 |
| L'Eau du Sud | 5/1 |
| Jango Baie | 8/1 |
| Only By Night | 10/1 |
| Touch Me Not | 16/1 |
| Bar | 20/1 |
2025 Arkle Tips - The Favourite
Racing fans have been robbed of what promised to be the showdown of the entire meeting. Sir Gino and Majborough looks set for a titanic tussle in this year's Arkle, that was until Nicky Henderson's star suffered an injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Many fancied Majborough could beat Sir Gino after he ran away with the Irish Arkle. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner wasn't foot-perfect at Leopardstown, or on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse, but Majborough's undoubted class and explosive power has helped him record two impressive victories.
2025 Arkle Tips - The Chasing Pack
The closest challenger to Majborough now that Sir Gino is out of the picture is L'Eau du Sud. As many of Dan Skelton's novices do, L'Eau du Sud has jumped brilliantly this season, winning all four of his starts over fences. Harry's mount was imperious in winning a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November, and while he was a little workmanlike in winning the Henry VIII Novices' Chase and the Kingmaker, the form of both races looks solid.
To fill the void left by Sir Gino, Nicky Henderson has rerouted Jango Baie to the Arkle. Like L'Eau Du Sud, Henderson's six-year-old has won over the Cheltenham fences already this season and lost nothing in defeat to Handstands in the Scilly Isles at Sandown.
Mares have a fairly poor record in both the Arkle and the Champion Chase, but that won't dissuade Gavin Cromwell from throwing Only By Night into the mix. Cromwell's seven-year-old is unbeaten over fences this term, but will need to raise her game to compete with the geldings.
2025 Arkle Tips - The Best Of The Rest
Touch Me Not has finished second to both Majborough and L'Eau Du Sud in Grade Ones and looks likely to run here, despite several handicap entries. He would represent each-way value at 16/1 if three paid places were up for grabs. Sadly, I expect a small field will be confirmed for this Grade One.
Ballyburn runs in the Brown Advisory and Gidleigh Park is injured. Firefox, Springwell Bay, Caldwell Potter and Jordans look likely to head for the Novices' Handicap Chase, while Paul Nicholls has confirmed that the Grand Annual is Kalif Du Berlais' target.
Jeannot Lapin and Fascile Mode are entered at Navan this weekend and San Salvador will go for a handicap. Touch Me Not may end up being the fifth and final runner when the field is finalised.
2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy Tips
L'Eau du Sud is undoubtedly the best jumper in this year's Arkle and some good featuring in the going description wouldn't hinder his chances. Yet, I doubt whether Dan Skelton's star has the class of MAJBOROUGH (8/13), who is only just getting started over fences.
The more I've watched his victory in the Irish Arkle, the more impressive it seems. On first watch, I thought his jumping was erratic, and some of them were. However, Mark Walsh's mount was clever at several obstacles when he didn't meet them correctly and the style in which he motored clear of Touch Me Not was majestic.
I have no doubt that Majborough will head to either the Ryanair Chase or the Gold Cup next season. His future lies over longer distances. Yet, Willie Mullins' star has shown he has more than enough boot to win Grade Ones over two miles as a novice and he's a proven winner at the Cheltenham Festival.
If we did get a larger field than expected, then I might back Touch Me Not each way. That being said, I don't think there's any chance he will reverse the Irish Arkle form with Majborough - unless something was to go amiss with the market leader.
Verdict
Majborough won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year, and his two wins over fences have been very impressive. He's the class horse in this race. I can't see him being beaten.
Majborough
2025 Arkle Challenge Trophy
@8/13 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
28 May 2026
- 2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
- Horse Racing
30 May 2026
- 2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
- Horse Racing
05 June 2026
- 2026 Epsom Oaks -
- Horse Racing
Load More
