William Hill's update on the Arkle Challenge Trophy

Everything went smoothly for Captain Cee Bee in his final prep bar a minor blip at the final fence and connections couldn't have really wished for a better performance as he was neat and polished up until the last fence and won at his leisure beating some useful types without taking much out of himself.

Somersby missed Doncaster and heads straight to the race in the end which means that he will also skip a clash with Long Run in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday that has been a cracking Arkle guide when it has beaten the weather.

The very fact that Long Run heads for an Arkle trial has got punters latching on to him for this race rather than the RSA Chase even though his trainer says the 'RSA' is the more likely option at this stage.

If he blows them away at Warwick, housing the 'RSA' favourite in Punchestowns, the huge temptation would be to run in the Arkle.

Woolcombe Folly entered the picture with his nose defeat of I'm Delilah in the Grade 2 Lightning Chase on his seasonal and chase debut so may end up being the Nicholls number one after Tataniano's shock defeat the previous week but that form looks well short of what is required in a year featuring many high-class ex-hurdlers. Mad Max had no excuses back in third which appears to have burst his bubble as far as being a fringe Arkle player is concerned and similar comments apply to Bedlam Boy who was beaten by a three-miler over 2m3f on the same card.