Hi all,
Inside today's main piece I'm looking ahead to Cheltenham's November Meeting which kicks off on Friday. Plus, you can read my thoughts on a decent card at Bangor-On-Dee this afternoon.
Cheltenham’s November Meeting
Cheltenham’s November Meeting is one of the first big highlights of the winter jumps season. It signals that the serious stuff has begun.
Saturday’s feature is the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2:20). First run in 1960 as the Mackeson Gold Cup, it remains one of the key handicap chases before Christmas. This year’s £160,000 renewal will be run in the memory of legendary Irish trainer Edward O’Grady.
Sunday is “Family Day,” headlined by the valuable Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
The three-day fixture is a major stepping stone in the season — and easily the best meeting of the jumps campaign so far. There’s plenty to get excited about, especially if the rain has eased the ground.
Cheltenham November Meeting Pointers
It’s only Wednesday, so final declarations for the Saturday & Sunday’s card have still to come out, but several have already caught my eye. Today I’m looking at Friday’s card and tomorrow I’ll look at Saturday and Sunday’s big races.
Friday
The feature on “Countryside Day” is the Grade 2 Shloer Chase (2:55). If the ground is suitable, Jonbon will be a short price to land his third straight Shloer.
Libberty Hunter was still travelling well when falling three out in the Champion Chase at the Festival. The 16/1 available on Sunday has long gone, but even at 8/1 he looks solid each-way value, especially if Jonbon doesn’t turn up. Brookie is only 2lb behind Libberty Hunter on official ratings and could also sneak a place at big odds.
In the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase (1:45), Happygolucky might need further than 2m4f, but he’s a course winner and ran a fine fourth in the Ultima here in March. The 11yo should find veterans’ races right up his street. Charlie Deutsch is booked, which looks a positive. The yard hasn’t quite hit form yet, but he’s still of interest. Irish raider Dreal Deal has been going well through the summer and would add intrigue if Philip Rothwell sends him over.
Wednesday Preview
Bangor-on-Dee stages a competitive midweek card this afternoon, headlined by the Yorton Mares' Novices' Chase (1:30). Six line up, with four useful hurdlers — Joyeuse, Diva Luna, Wyenot and Queens Gamble — all making their chasing debuts.
Joyeuse, who won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February, sets the standard on hurdles form. Diva Luna ran a cracker when third to Air Of Entitlement in the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Trainer Ben Pauling has been very positive about her prospects over fences this season, telling the Racing Post she’s one he’s particularly looking forward to.
Wyenot might find the trip a bit short side but she has won first time up for the last two seasons and can be hard to peg back when allowed to dictate. Like Joyeuse and Diva Luna, she’s a fascinating newcomer to chasing.
Elsewhere on the card, there are three interesting handicaps.
1:00 – Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m4½f
Reallyntruthfully, a dual hurdles winner last season, made a successful start over fences at Fontwell last month. He jumped well in the main and, although up 7lb, looks capable of further progress.
2:00 – Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m
Eight runners contest a competitive £40,000 handicap. You can make a solid case for several.
The Doyen Chief capped last season with back-to-back handicap chase wins in March. He returns off a 5lb higher mark but remains open to improvement as a second-season chaser. If fit enough, he can go close. The yard won this in 2020 with another making its seasonal return.
Le Milos, who took this race in 2022, isn’t the force of old but still landed two veterans’ chases earlier this year. He needed the run when fifth at Aintree 17 days ago but is handicapped to go well for a yard who have won three of the last ten running’s of the race.
Hold That Taught has disappointed since winning a C&D handicap in December 2023 but is now 2lb below that mark. He’s 3 from 6 first time up, goes well on soft ground, and Venetia Williams won this in 2018. A revival wouldn’t surprise.
Deep Cave ended last season by winning a valuable Aintree handicap hurdle and now returns to fences for Christian Williams. The trainer is adept with staying chasers, though his runners have been needing the outing.
Some Scope isn’t the most reliable but is a useful staying handicapper when on song, as shown by his Rowland Meyrick win at Wetherby last season. He’s off his last winning mark but doesn’t have the best of records fresh and the yard is quiet.
4:00 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 2m3½f
Disco Davis, a good sixth in a valuable novices’ handicap at Sandown in March, returned from a break with a solid fourth at Uttoxeter last month. He runs off the same mark here and has race fitness on his side. Plenty to like about his chance.
Wednesday Selection:
Disco Davis (4:00 Bangor)
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John