Dublin Racing Festival – Footpad all set for Irish Arkle test
Willie Mullins' short-priced Arkle favourite Footpad is on course to take in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown before hopefully heading on to the Cheltenham Festival.
FOOTPAD will aim to continue his surge towards the very top of the novice chasing ranks at Leopardstown next month.
Last season's Champion Hurdle fourth has made a seamless transition to fences and is unbeaten in two starts over the bigger obstacles, having backed up his debut win at Navan with an electric performance in a Grade One at the Dublin track over Christmas.
The six-year-old, who is as short as 5-4 for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, will run in the Frank Ward Solicitors Novice Chase (better known as the Irish Arkle) as part of the first Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on February 3.
He will bid to claim the fourth top-level success of his still young career and a sixth success in the race for his trainer Willie Mullins.
MOST READ
Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "All being well, Footpad is due to go to the Irish Arkle on February 3.
"He is very exciting, but he was a smart hurdler and it is no surprise he is making a good fist of it over fences.
"Should he win he will then go for the Arkle. He is not entered for the Champion Chase and he is a novice for one season so we will stick to novice company and the Arkle is a great race.
Templegate's Treble
NAP 1.30 Catterick - Un Prophete: 'Today’s soft ground suits him well and Venetia Williams' horses are in good form'
NEXT BEST 7.00 Chelmsford - Tangramm: 'Course and distance winner and the race didn't suit last time'
TREBLE 3.45 Catterick - Nendrum: 'Looks well ahead of the handicapper after bolting up last time'
"I'm not ruling out Willie putting an entry in the JLT, and he may well get entered in that, but he will be kept in novice company."
The Arkle also remains the long-term target for Sceau Royal, who, like Footpad, is owned by Munir and Souede.
Alan King's six-year-old was last seen winning the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown and is likely to warm up for the Cheltenham Festival with a run at Doncaster later this month.
Bromley added: "He has had a good freshen-up since his win in the Henry VIII at Sandown and the idea is to go to the Lightning Chase, then straight to the Arkle.
"The owners have done it before (run two in one race at Cheltenham). They did it in the JLT, with Bristol De Mai and L'Ami Serge finishing second and third, and Peace And Co and Top Notch were first and second in the Triumph Hurdle.