Cheltenham Tips: Arkle Chase Tips, Predictions, & Betting Preview From Expert Panel

Cheltenham tips are on the agenda, and this time around, it’s Arkle Chase tips as our expert panel gave us their predictions for the second race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Ahead of this year’s Festival, we assembled an expert panel of; BoyleSports Horse Racing Ambassadors Robbie Power and Bryan Cooper, trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, pro punter Johnny Dineen, and Willie Mullins assistant trainer David Casey.

At BoyleSports 2025 Cheltenham Festival Preview Night, hosted by David Jennings of the Racing Post, the 5-strong panel of horse racing experts discussed in-depth all of the key betting angles for each race of the Cheltenham Festival.

Watch the preview of the Arkle Novices’ Chase with the video below, and you can continue scrolling down to read each panellist’s tips and add them to your bet slip.

Arkle Chase Odds – 2025 Cheltenham Festival

Arkle Chase Tips & Preview

Robbie Power

Majborough looks very, very good. I was very impressed with him in Fairyhouse when he won a beginner’s chase, did go a bit left. He went to Leopardstown then, and I was a bit concerned about him going to Leopardstown with his jumping. But he was much better in Leopardstown, although he still made one or two mistakes.

Now he’s got the right man on his back to nurse him around in Mark Walsh. I think that’s all he has to do is nurse him around. If he nurses him around, he’s in a different league to all of these.

Skelton’s horse LEau du Sud is a good horse but not in the same class as Majborough.

If I were to back just one of the two odds-on favourites in the opening two races of the festival, between Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Majborough in the Arkle Chase, I would back Majborough to win the Arkle.

I think Firefox is an each-way chance at 14/1. He won’t win the race in a million years but I could see him in the first three.

Robbie Power’s Arkle Chase Tips:

Majborough – 8/15 (a class apart from the rest)

Firefox – 14/1 (each-way value)

David Casey

I think Majborough will win, yeah. Looking at the field, I think something will have to go badly wrong for him not to win. If he does everything right, I genuinely think he’ll win.

As to whether Majborough is a stayer or a speed horse, I think he can do both. He is a bit forward going so at the moment, I would say you’d be looking at the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase if things go right next year. But ideally I think the more raced he is the more relaxed he’ll be and he would get a trip in time.

David Casey’s Arkle Chase Tip: Majborough – 8/15

Bryan Cooper

Yeah, I think Majborough wins. He’s a good thing, so I’d just move on.

Bryan Cooper’s Arkle Chase Tip: Majborough – 8/15

Johnny Dineen

I’d say, barring a fall, barring Majborough doing something untoward and making a mistake at a fence, he should win. He’s a completely different class to these horses.

I’d nearly fancy him to beat Sir Gino, never mind the rest of these. I’d give him every chance of beating Sir Gino if it was a straight shootout. There’s nothing else that can beat him here, bar himself.

Johnny Dineen’s Arkle Chase Tip: Majborough – 8/15

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon

Majborough should win, the only thing now is Johnny [Dineen] is after saying it which kind of puts me back a small bit. At times, you don’t be well Johnny. [panel laughter]

I was in Dubai with him and he came up with a few statements in Dubai. We were over in Dubai doing a Cheltenham preview last year. Every one of them, every one after the other, they all got bet. [panel laughter]

I think he [Majborough] wins. I think Dan Skelton’s horse [LEau du Sud] will be 2nd to him, but I think Majborough will win.

John Shark Hanlon’s Arkle Chase Tips:

Majborough – 8/15 (should win)

LEau du Sud – 7/2 (most likely to finish 2nd)

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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