Field of 13 to contest Arkle

Racing: Fair Along and My Way De Solzen head a high class field of 13 for tomorrow's Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham…

Racing:Fair Along and My Way De Solzen head a high class field of 13 for tomorrow's Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

The two met at Sandown earlier in the season with Philip Hobbs' diminutive Fair Along coming out on top - although Alan King was adamant his charge was not at his best that day.

Jonjo O'Neill's Don't Push It will have the assistance of Tony McCoy from the saddle, while Timmy Murphy takes over the steering on David Pipe's Buena Vista, third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago and unbeaten over fences.

Nicky Henderson has declared Jack The Giant, despite issuing a warning to punters over the gelding's participation on Sunday, with Howard Johnson also set to unleash the impressive Lennon.

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The northern challenge is supplemented by Nicky Richards's Faasel, second in the Triumph Hurdle two years ago, and Ferdy Murphy's Another Promise.

There are two challengers from Ireland in Jessica Harrington's Gemini Lucy and the Charles Byrnes-trained Vintage Treasure.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has two live outsiders in Twist Magic and Good Spirit, while Jonathan Jay's Tidal Fury, a Grade One winner in France, completes the line-up.

McCoy is looking forward to his mount and believes his run behind Denman at Cheltenham earlier in the season is one of the best pieces of form on offer.

"I'm hopeful about Don't Push It," said the champion. "He got within three-quarters of a length of Denman, but he didn't get past him. He did run well that day, though.

"He's a good horse and I'm definitely looking forward to riding him.

"It should be a good race. My Way De Solzen is a very good horse, but he'd obviously be better over a little bit further and Fair Along looks an out-and-out two-miler.

"He could take a bit of catching. He deserves to be favourite and he has the best form over two miles in the book, but obviously Don't Push It and My Way De Solzen will be staying on," he told At The Races.

"But I don't see any reason why My Way De Solzen can't win, despite the fact he won the World Hurdle over three miles, he has shown plenty of pace. I don't see any reason why he can't win it."