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Ferny Hollow eyes further Cheltenham prize in the Arkle

Ferny Hollow and Paul Townend beating Riviere D'etel and Jack Kennedy in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown

Willie Mullins can once again have a major hand in the outcome of the Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase, with Ferny Hollow the pick among his nine entries out of a total of 24 for the 2022 renewal.

Unbeaten in his last five starts since the beginning of 2020, Ferny Hollow is already a Cheltenham Festival winner. Despite the fact the Mullin's son Patrick had first pick in the Champion Bumper two years ago, his selection Appreciate It - the race favourite - succumbed to 11-1 Ferny Hollow and Paul Townend.
The Cheveley Park stud-owned gelding only made it to the racecourse once last season, but he made it count, beating none other than Bob Olinger by a length, in what was clearly a red hot Gowran Park maiden hurdle.
After more than a year off, he returned over fences with a four-length success from Coeur Sublime at Punchestown in December. From there, it was back into Grade 1 company for the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. There he has yardstick Coeur Sublime 14-lengths behind him, with the hitherto unbeaten Riviere D'etel, from the Gordon Elliott yard, separating that pair in second.
Ferny Hollow has very much an improving profile but is already high class. He is likely to scare off a number of entries and his presence will probably ensure that the Arkle remains one of the smallest fields of the week.

Ireland is represented by half of the 24 entries, nine of them from Mullins' County Carlow stable. In addition to Ferny Hollow, they include Blue Lord, who is unbeaten in his two novice chases so far.

Another Mullins possible is Haute En Couleurs, third to Quilixios in last year's Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, and a comfortable Leopardstown winner on his chase debut, 24-hours after Ferny Hollow's Christmas success.

The five-year-old Saint Sam is another on the long list. He, too, has form with Quilixios, having finished just over five lengths second to him in last year's Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Winter Festival. He was very impressive on his chase debut back at Fairyhouse last week, dotting up by nine lengths from Thedevilscoachman.

Of the British entries, Alan King-trained Edwardstone, who won both the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown and Kempton's Grade 2 Lad Novices' Chase last month. His next target could be the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on February 12.

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