Arkle the right choice as Captain pulls rank

CAPTAIN CHRIS justified trainer Philip Hobbs’ last-minute decision to run in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham by seeing off the free-going Finian’s Rainbow after the final fence.

Hobbs had pinned his colours to the Jewson Novices’ Chase a few weeks ago, which would have meant a clash with stablemate Wishfull Thinking, and it was not until last weekend that the Minehead trainer finally plumped for this contest.

However, the inexperienced seven-year-old, who only had the first run of his life 15 months ago, showed he had the requisite speed for the two-mile contest and his jumping held up under the sternest pressure.