Hi all,
Hopefully you went with the five places on offer with Ladbrokes & Coral about Sky Pirate in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase. And some of you may have got paid out on Tobefair who finished 4th in the 3m Handicap Hurdle that followed.
ITV are covering four races from the final day of the November Meeting and as a bonus they are showing the Southern National from Fontwell and the Grade 1 Morgana Hurdle at Punchestown.
Cheltenham has a nicely balanced six race card with the highlight being the Grade 2 Shloer Chase (2:25) where Put The Kettle aims to prove her Arkle Chase success in March was no fluke. She takes on last year’s winner Defi Du Seuil. Impressive last time C&D winner Rouge Vif and Riders On the Storm who drops back to the minimum trip for his seasonal return.
The big betting race of the Cheltenham card is a competitive looking Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (3:00) which has attracted a big field of 17 runners.
All today’s selections are from Cheltenham.
Cheltenham November Meeting – Day 3
1:15 – mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 3m ½ f
The Big Breakaway, trained by Colin Tizzard, won his first two starts over hurdles last season before finishing 4th to Envoi Allen in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. Connections think he could win a Gold Cup one day and he’s odds on to make a winning debut over fences here.
Soldier Of Love was well placed to win four races over fences on good ground over the summer before finishing runner-up to Galvin here at the last meeting. Different ground today and looks set for the minor money.
The Mighty Don finally put it all together to win over fences at the 7th attempt at Chepstow on his seasonal return last month. The second has gone onto win since so the form looks reliable. He could take advantage if the favourite underperforms.
Doc Pentro will enjoy the soft ground looking at his hurdle form. His trainer Emma Lavelle won this race in 2013 and it’s interesting she gives the 8-year-old his chase debut in a race as good as this.
Verdict: The Big Breakaway is the most likely winner but I think the Mighty Don can out run his odds.
1pt win – The Mighty Don – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1:45 – Planteur At Chapel Stud Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 3m 3 ½ f
Irish raider Discorama has placed three times at Cheltenham Festival. Just got touched off by Milan Native in a three-runner race at Galway on his return to action last month. Back up in trip today and yard had one that went close here yesterday. Looks to have a favourites chance.
West Approach won this last year off 6lb lower. Made an encouraging seasonal reappearance when runner-up to Froden here last month. As his win strike rate of 13% suggests he’s not the easiest to catch right but can be expected to go close again if in the mood. Robbie Power opts for Discorama today.
Captain Drake runner-up in last season’s Midland National has just had the five starts over fences, winning once at Exeter. A winner back over hurdles last month. He should be spot fitness wise for this and can win races off his present mark this winter. Having his first run at Cheltenham today.
Big River has plenty of big field handicap chase form at the Festival. Not the most reliable as he showed when pulling up in this race 12 months ago. Handicapped to go well and like heavy ground and plenty of winning form in small fields.
Yala Enki stays well, goes very well in the mud, and has dropped back down to a workable mark.
Ramses De Teillee is another who goes well in the mud and can win a handicap chase off his current mark but was only 4th in last year’s renewal.
Cloth Cap can win a handicap chase off his present mark but the ground has probably gone against him today.
Verdict: West Approach isn’t the most reliable but has to be respected in his bid for back to back wins in the races. Discorama goes well here and will be spot on fitness wise. Captain Drake can win races off his present mark and Bryan Carver takes off a handy 5lb. Big River likes a small field and provided he doesn’t get to far behind is handicapped to go close.
1pt win – Big River – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
1pt win – West Approach – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:25 – Shloer Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase) (Grade 2) – 2m
Just the five now with Forest Bihan a none runner. Last year’s winner Defi Du Seuil bids for back to back wins in the race. Ran no sort of race when odds on favourite in the Champion Chase here in March but better expected today. He remains the one to beat.
Put The Kettle On bids to show her win last years Arkle was no fluke. The time of her Arkle success suggests it wasn’t. Gets 10lb from Defi Du Seuil today and with normal improvement can take this.
Rouge Vif was impressive when winning a handicap under a big weight over C&D last month. That performance gives him a big chance here but has the ground gone against this improving 6-year-old.
Riders Onthe Storm was a big improver over 2m 4f/2m 5f last season. He won first time up last years and goes well in the mud. Interesting dropped back to 2m but this will be tough against proven rivals at the distance.
Verdict: Despite his poor run in the Champion Chase Defi Du Seuil is the one to beat. Put The Kettle gets the allowances from the favourite and with normal improvement on her second season chasing won’t be far away.
3:00 – Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – 2m ½ f
Two non-runners mean 16 are set to go to post for what is usually a competitive handicap hurdle.
Alan King has saddled the winner twice in the last three seasons. He saddles second season hurdler Edwardstone. A winner of his first two starts over hurdles last season. The 6-year-old was well beaten in the Supreme Novices when last seen in action, better can be expected this season although I am not totally sure Cheltenham is his track. King also saddles last year’s winner Harambe. He’s 6lb higher this time around and doesn’t have the benefit of a run this time.
Sir Psycho showed a distinct liking for soft/heavy going when winning at Exeter & Haydock early in the year and wasn’t disgraced when 5th of 13 in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival. Ran well for a long way on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last month, on ground that would have been plenty quick enough. Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race twice since 2011 and both his winners were 4-year-old’s who had previously run that season. Stablemate Thyme White was impressive on his seasonal return at Chepstow. He’s up 11lb for that success and must prove he’s as good on soft ground.
Tegerek has returned to action in good form and last time out was a decisive winner of a 17-runner handicap over C&D last month. Runner-up One True King ran a brave race under a big weight here yesterday so the form looks reliable enough. That win came on good ground but he did win on soft last at Huntingdon in March. Up 8lb in a better race but he’s going the right way and can go close.
Proschema is very much unexposed over hurdles. A useful staying handicapper on the flat, the 5-year-old is 1-4 over hurdles and returned from a 322-day absence to finish 2nd of 11 at Wetherby last month. He’s only been raised 3lb for that effort and looks capable of plenty more progress on just his second start in a handicap hurdle. Trainer Dan Skelton saddled the winner in 2016.
Ballyandy holds no secrets from the handicapper but the recent rain brings him very much into contention here. The 9-year-old goes well at the track, beaten just a neck in the Grade 2 International Hurdle last December and got up in the final strides to win a Grade 2 at Haydock in January (heavy), Vulnerable under top-weight to any better handicapped rivals but his recent 2nd in the Welsh Champion Hurdle shows he’s as good as ever.
Verdict: Plenty in with a chance here. Top-weight Ballyandy looks sure to give his backers a good run for their money. The form of Tegerek’s recent C&D win was franked yesterday and he can go close. The softer the ground the better for Sir Psycho. The unexposed Proschema lurks on what looks a competitive mark for an inform yard.
1pt win – Proschema – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Tegerek – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Cheers
John