National Hunt racing is often scorned for its lack of ‘big’ clashes, particularly early in the season. Connections are becoming more determined to wrap their stars up in cotton wool to avoid a strenuous task before the sport’s Olympics in March.
However, ground permitting, we could be treated to one of the most fascinating spectacles in recent years as Old Park Star and Kabral Du Mathan line up against each other in the Arkle Trial at the Cheltenham November Meeting on Saturday.
Kabral Du Mathan – Stayers’ despair to Arkle glory?
Kabral Du Mathan has long been highly regarded by connections. Formerly with Paul Nicholls, he was placed in multiple big handicaps in the 2024/25 season. Along with many of the Smith family’s horses, he switched to Dan Skelton last season and swiftly got off the mark in a Class 2 handicap at Haydock.
Following a 14lb rise, Skelton pitched him into graded company on New Year’s Day and he duly obliged, beating the subsequent Coral Cup winner and the Grade 2 Select Hurdle one-two with ease. As the yard already had a Champion Hurdle horse, Kabral Du Mathan was stepped up in trip to contest the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Coming down to the last, he looked all over the winner. But he weakened remarkably out of contention to be beaten five lengths into fourth, shaping as if he didn’t stay.
He was dropped almost a mile in trip for his chase debut at Perth and produced a sparkling performance, jumping fluently throughout.
He undoubtedly sets the standard going into Saturday, but aside from proving he can safely negotiate fences, his opposition were quite happy to complete the race in their own time and it was essentially a non-event, even if the second has won since.
He has to prove he can mix it in better company over fences, but the Skeltons have won this three times since 2017 and they rarely miss.
Old Park Star – Altior reincarnated
Nicky Henderson is renowned for producing world-class two-mile chasers. Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Finian’s Rainbow, Remittance Man, Jonbon and Shishkin, just to name a few.
Henderson has won the Arkle Trial twice and the Arkle itself eight times. Old Park Star looks to be the second coming of Altior. Similar in style and stature, he’s another to have switched from Paul Nicholls, and he beat everything in his way last season.
He confirmed that promise when a devastating 18-length winner of a Grade 2 at Haydock, a race won by Jonbon in the past, and in doing so he beat the now 143-rated Hurricane Pat and 146-rated Soldier Reeves.
He came home first in a British-dominated Supreme, with the second and fourth both filling the frame at Aintree.
He looks a chaser physically, and he’s bred to improve for the discipline, being a full brother to the 2020 Grand Annual winner Chosen Mate.
There is the slight negative that Nicky Henderson very rarely sends his chasers to Cheltenham to make their debut, and despite already winning on good ground, Henderson has stated he would like it softer come Saturday.
Verdict
The pair are split by only a pound, and Kabral Du Mathan has the advantage of experience. But I’m of the opinion that Old Park Star could be the next star two-mile chaser to emerge from Seven Barrows.
He’s closely matched on ratings with the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin when they made their chase debuts, and I believe Old Park Star can be held in similar regard to that elite trio by the end of his career, beginning on Saturday, provided the taps are appropriately turned on.