"Jumped big 1st, tracked leader, led 3 out, shaken up and headed next, a length down when blundered last and unseated rider"

Those are the race comments regarding Grandouet, the current second favourite for the Arkle Chase in March, after his Chasing debut at Sandown on Saturday... hardly inspiring reading!!

But what do the stats say? Is it something to worry about if you are a fan of the horse? Or is it just one of those things and come the big day at the Cheltenham Festival it won't matter?

>>Do we want to be backing a first time faller/un-seater for festival Success?

I will be covering a number of these angles on the FREE NTF Blog as we begin the long sweep up to the Cheltenham Festival in March. 

The National Hunt game is now clicking through the gears and as always, rightly or wrongly, it is the Festival that is at the forefront of most peoples minds...

>>What to the Arkle stats say regarding Grandouet's last fence blunder?