Dardjini favourite

Dardjini, trained by Noel Meade, heads Coral's Guinness Arkle Challenge Trophy ante-post market at 9 to 2, with Martin Pipe's Cyfor Malta next best at 5 to 1.

And the Willie Mullins-trained Florida Pearl is the 7 to 2 favourite for the other top novice chase event at the Cheltenham Festival, the SunAlliance Chase. "This looks like a vintage year for two mile novice chasers and the Arkle Chase should prove a fabulous ante-post betting event," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.

Dardjini , who survived an injury scare last week, also heads William Hill's list at the same price.

Ladbrokes spokesman David Hood said of Florida Pearl: "I watched this horse win at Leopardstown over Christmas and he was foot perfect. And he impressed everybody when he worked after racing yesterday.

"In fact we have already laid the horse to win the 1999 Gold Cup at 33 to 1 and 25 to 1 and if punters regard him that highly he must be a knocking bet for the SunAlliance."

(Corrected repetition, amending number of Martin Pipe-trained entries in Royal & SunAlliance Chase)