Watson stakes claim for Arkle

Watson Lake jumped to the forefront of the Cheltenham picture after an authoritative display of front-running under Paul Carberry in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan today.

Noel Meade’s seven-year-old had not raced since winning the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse in late November, but he overturned odds-on favourite Ulaan Baatar and replaced Jessica Harrington’s horse near the top of the betting for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.