Hi all,
Wins by Happy Diva & West Approach meant yet another profitable day for the service. The last few days have been incredible. The run will no doubt soon come to an end so let’s enjoy it while it’s here.
It’s the final day of Cheltenham’s November Meeting with the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle being the highlight of a seven-race card.
Cheltenham
12:45 – All the last ten winners of the race from 56 runners 21 placed were having their first run for 121+days.
Just four of the 20 declared runners are making their seasonal reappearance so it will be interesting to see if this strong trend holds up today. The qualifiers are Lugarno Palace, Ozzy Thomas, Duc De Beauchene & Volcano.
Duc De Beauchene is trained by David Pipe whose 3 winners from 7 runners 43% +46 4 placed 57% with his runners in the race returning from a 121+day absence. The softer the better for the 6-year-old who returns from a summer break and a wind-op here. The booking of Jonjo O’Neill Jnr is an eye-catching one and he will take all the beating in this conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle.
A day’s since run trend buster would be Colditz Castle. The 5-year-old shaped like he would be suited by a step up in distance when 3rd of 13 at Worcester last month. Seemed to handle soft ground on the one occasion he raced on it last season and won’t be far away for trainer Alan King who has traditionally done well at the meeting.
1pt win – Duke De Beauchene – 10/3 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:25 – Shloer Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase) (Grade 2) – 2m
Just the four go to post for this valuable prize. You can make a case for all four runners but at the prices it may pay to support the race fit Saint Calvados who proved he handled the track when winning over C&D 22-days ago. No issues with underfoot conditions as he’s 4 wins from 7 runs +2.94 on soft or heavy.
1pt win – Saint Calavados – 9/2 @ Paddy Power or 4/1 @ Ladbrokes
3:00 – Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – 2m ½ f
Paul Nicholls has also won this race twice in the past ten years. He saddles Quel Destin who on a heavy ground hurdle over C&D at the last meeting. The 4-year-old must be considered a contender on his handicap hurdle debut and meets all the above three trends.
I made a case for an Alan King runner in the first race and he won this race in 2017. His runner Harambe needs respecting on the best of last seasons form.
Nicky Henderson is 0 winners from 10 runners 3 placed in the race in the past ten years. He saddles two each way contenders in Countister who was a close-up 3rd of 24 in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He also runs Dame De Compagnie also owned by J P McManus, who won here in April 2018, over 2m 4 ½ f. This is the mares first run for 577-days but is the choice of Barry Geraghty.
1pt win – QuEL Destin – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
0.5pts each way – Countister – 16/1 @ Ladbrokes (Paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Besides Cheltenham there are a couple of races of interest across the Irish Sea at Cork & Punchestown.
Cork
3:10 – The talented but frustrating, Blast Of Koeman has the ability to win a handicap chase like this. However, as his career record of 2 wins from 27 runners shows he often fails to deliver. He arguably put up his best performance over fences last season when 3rd of 10 in this race 12 months ago. A beaten favourite that day he will pop up sometime this season when all the cards fall right.
1pt win – Blast Of Koeman – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Punchestown
3:20 – Trainer Eoghan O’Grady did us a favour on Thursday with Westerner Point and he has each way claims in this handicap chase with Mick The Jiver. The 9-year-old returned from a 316-day absence with a promising 4th of 10 at Galway 21-days ago. He will be all the better for his seasonal reappearance and although he may prefer a bit further the more of a stamina test the better his chance.
0.5pts each way – Mick The Jiver – 14/1 @ Bet365 or 12/1 – Gen
Cheers
John