Kopek Des Bordes VS Lulamba in the 2026 Arkle – Will It Be Mullins Or Henderson Who Clinches It?
The Arkle Chase, officially known as the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, is one of the Cheltenham Festival’s showcase events.
Scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, it is a Grade 1 contest run over approximately two miles on the Old Course, demanding quick, fluent jumping and tactical speed.
Named after the legendary three-time Gold Cup winner Arkle, the race is a proving ground for future champions.
Many winners, including Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre, and Altior, went on to triumph in the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following year.
Pathway to the 2026 Arkle
The Arkle rewards progressive two-mile novice chasers, often those stepping up from top-class novice hurdle races.
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham is traditionally the most reliable pointer, while events such as the Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown and the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown act as essential stepping stones.
Strong form in those contests often translates into Arkle contention, as seen with recent winners like El Fabiolo (Supreme-placed the previous year) and Edwardstone, who steadily improved through England’s key novice chases before his 2022 victory.
That is why Kopek Des Bordes, winner of the 2025 Supreme Novices Hurdle, is already the 2026 Arkle Chase ante-post favourite!
Leading 2026 Contenders
While none of these horses are guaranteed to run in the upcoming Arkle, the 2026 ante-post market features a promising mix of emerging stars and familiar names.
The current top three illustrate the depth of talent on display.
Kopek Des Bordes (Willie Mullins)
Kopek Des Bordes has quickly made a mark in novice company, showcasing a blend of speed and fluent jumping that makes him ideally suited to the minimum trip at Cheltenham.
Trained by Willie Mullins, his victories last season at Leopardstown and Cheltenham have confirmed his potential at Graded level.
His tactical pace and professionalism over fences have made him a clear early favourite for the Arkle, reflecting Mullins’ confidence in his long-term prospects.
Lulamba (Nicky Henderson)
Representing Seven Barrows, Lulamba has followed a carefully managed progression through the novice ranks.
His ability to handle good-to-soft conditions and his proven record at two miles mark him out as a natural contender for this race.
Henderson has described him as one of his “most accurate jumpers,” a vital asset at the Arkle’s fierce pace.
A strong run in the Ballymore at Punchestown last season has sealed his status as one of Britain’s leading hopes.
Salvator Mundi (Willie Mullins)
Willie Mullins’ Salvator Mundi brings valuable experience and tactical versatility, having competed in several of Ireland’s top novice hurdles before switching successfully to fences.
He stays further than two miles but has enough cruising speed to hold position in a fast-run Arkle.
Often described by connections as “a staying type with tactical gears,” his performance in the Irish Arkle Trials this winter will reveal more about his Cheltenham credentials.
Mullins and Henderson: A Decade of Dominance
Between them, Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have captured eight of the last ten Arkle renewals, underlining their specialised focus on preparing speedy novice chasers for this intense two-mile test.
Mullins’ roll of honour includes Footpad (2018), Duc Des Genievres (2019), El Fabiolo (2023), and Gaelic Warrior (2024), while Henderson has scored with Altior (2017), Shishkin (2021), and Jango Baie (2025).
Their shared formula is evident – selecting hurdlers with Grade 1 pace, schooling them intensively over fences, and targeting early-season confidence boosts before Cheltenham.
Mullins, in particular, has perfected the blend of schooling and tactical preparation necessary for the Arkle, winning five of the past ten editions.
Henderson’s record, meanwhile, highlights Seven Barrows’ enduring skill in nurturing jumpers with balance, rhythm, and mental toughness for this particular race setup.
Others to Watch
Beyond the leading trio, several entries could emerge as surprise factors in 2026.
William Munny, around 14/1, represents a progressive British hope and has shown strong pace figures at Kempton.
Brighterdaysahead and Romeo Coolio, both priced around 16/1, have been impressive over hurdles and could make significant leaps once they switch to larger obstacles.
Another intriguing prospect is The New Lion, a four-time winner over intermediate trips who might thrive on the Old Course’s sharper layout.
Among the longer-priced runners, Constitution Hill stands out simply because of his reputation.
Should connections elect to send him novice chasing, a move viewed as unlikely yet still hinted at in conversations, it would redefine the race complexion entirely.
Kawaboomga and Irancy also offer each-way appeal, both displaying solid two-mile form in Irish company.
2026 Outlook
With Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba spearheading another likely Mullins–Henderson clash, the 2026 Arkle Chase should uphold the tradition of small fields brimming with top quality.
Historically, the Arkle has produced champions that shape the next decade of two-mile chasing; the roll call of past winners provides a near-seamless line of succession from Moscow Flyer to El Fabiolo.
Mullins’ current depth, potentially entering two or three runners from the top six in betting, means the Irish dominance could continue unabated.
Yet Henderson’s Lulamba, with his balance and precision, embodies the Seven Barrows archetype that has excelled in this race time and again.
As preparations intensify through the winter novice chases, the emerging narrative remains familiar but no less compelling: the Arkle is once again set to showcase the fiercest young talents in jumping, under the guidance of the two trainers who have turned the race into a near-monopoly of mastery.
BETFRED
