Leslingtaylor on Arkle trail

Leslingtaylor will head straight to Cheltenham for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy as John Quinn plans his assault on the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old has already won a total of 12 races on the Flat, over timber and fences, and took the scalp of the highly-rated Tidal Bay at Doncaster last month.

Quinn said: “Leslingtaylor is absolutely fine after Doncaster and he won’t have a racecourse gallop before Cheltenham.

“It will be the same routine and we’ll tick along at home.”

When asked if he thought his charge had not received the credit he deserved after trumping Tidal Bat, the Malton handler added: “I’m not that worried as he did well to win coming back on the back of a fall. We were pleased with him.

“He has certainly got a chance in the Arkle and it is very pleasing to have such a good horse in the yard.”

Leslingtaylor stood his ground for the Arkle along with 37 others at the latest forfeit stage.

All the well-fancied protagonists are still in the two-mile showpiece, including Noland, Mahogany Blaze, Clopf and Tidal Bay – although the latter is also still in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

As expected, Acambo and Pedrobob featured among the 26 defectors, along with Sky’s The Limit and Wins Now, who finished fifth behind Catch Me on his return to timber last weekend.

Paddy Power is still expecting a strong Arkle.

He said: “Noland is the standout horse in the Arkle at present with Paddy Power and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on if he runs later this week.”

Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy, Paddy Power bet: 3-1 Noland, 8-1 Tidal Bay, 10-1 Mahogany Blaze, 12-1 Clopf, Leslingtaylor, 14-1 Moon Over Miami, 16-1 French Accordion, Kruguyrova, 20-1 bar.