EYES ON ARKLE AS HARVEY NICKS IT

NORTH HILL HARVEY showed true grit as jump racing returned to Cheltenham yesterday — and is now 16-1 to lift the Arkle at the Festival next March.

The 100-30 chance was headed by 11-8 favourite and Champion Hurdle sixth Sceau Royal after the final fence of the novice chase — but battled back to shade the verdict by a neck. The chasing debut success was North Hill Harvey’s third at Cheltenham and winning trainer Dan Skelton (left) said: “I am just delighted with that. “I thought before jumping the last that on the sprint to the line there would be no disgrace in coming off second. But fair play he has stuck his nut down.”

THISTLECRACK will have “a month of fast stuff” before his return from injury in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on December 1, ahead of a bid to defend his title in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, trainer Colin Tizzard said yesterday.

CHELTENHAM SILKS: PAGES 4&5