Cheltenham November Meeting

We are back at Cheltenham for the second day of the November meeting. We have some exciting juveniles on show to start things off with the highlight of the day being the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

There are plenty of well-known horses on show, as well as more unexposed types to hopefully give us something to look forward to through the rest of the season.

There are seven races in total and we have selected our best bets in all of them.

12:35 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (2m1/2f)

James Owen has been flying of late, in particular with his team of hurdlers. East India Dock is another of those and looks to have a strong chance having been an impressive winner on hurdling debut. It is, however, Prairie Dancer for Joseph O’Brien who appeals more. She won both her starts over hurdles, with the form from Down Royal last time looking the strongest on offer here. She can make it a hat-trick over hurdles.

Selection: Prairie Dancer

13:10 Steel Plate & Sections Ltd Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (3m1f)

Christian Williams won this race in 2021 and looks to hold a strong hand here with three runners. Planned Paradise is the one who makes the most appeal though. He was impressive when winning at Perth over the summer and having come down the weights since, is racing off just a 2lb higher mark. He gained experience over course and distance in October and with Gina Andrews taking the reins again, he can improve markedly on that to claim victory.

Selection: Planned Paradise

13:45 Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (2m)

This is one of the races of the day and a chance to see how good some of the novice chasers might be. L’Eau du Sud boasts the best hurdle form, finishing second in the Betfair Hurdle, and the County Hurdle at the Festival last season. For all he was expected to win on chase debut last month, he couldn’t have been more impressive in doing so and he really should be winning this. Petit Tonnerre has a good chance on form from last season, most notably when third in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, but is likely to be outclassed here. Whilst Lookaway, also boasting good hurdle form from last season and having made a good start to his chase career, may also struggle to keep pace with the selection.

Selection: L’Eau du Sud

14:20 Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m4f)

This is the big one and features last season's Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat. He’ll have to be good to win this shouldering top weight, though, and some of the more unexposed ones make more appeal. None more so than Ginny’s Destiny, who was competing in the top-class novice chases last season, and won over the course and distance at this meeting last year. Receiving 12lb from Protektotrat is likely to be the difference and he can win on his seasonal reappearance.

Selection: Ginny’s Destiny

14:55 From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle (3m)

A competitive race but one that looks likely to go to the Skeltons. Doyen Quest was a good second on seasonal reappearance, and the form of the race is working out well with the third going on to win at Wetherby earlier this month, while the fourth also came out and has ran well since. The step up in trip looks likely to suit and he should be too good.

Selection: Doyen Quest

15:30 Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)

A tricky race to work out with lots of chances, but the form of Wyenot at the course in October looks as strong as any in the race. She has four wins from her last six starts and can add another here before going on to more success through the season.

Selection: Wyenot

16:00 Karndean Designflooring Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m1/2f)

With limited form to go off this can be a tricky race to work out, but Korinthia looks the standout choice on what we have seen so far. She is two from two, with the win last time looking particularly strong after the second ran a very good race over hurdles earlier on the week. The winner was trained by Willie Mullins last year and that looks probable to happen again.

Selection: Korinthia

Day One Tips

For many, the November meeting is seen as the first major jumps meeting of the season in the UK. The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the feature on Saturday and the Greatwood Hurdle is the highlight on Sunday.

Friday has two Grade 2 features in the Shloer Chase and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. The track’s cross country course will also be back in action.

There are six races in total and we have selected our best bets in all of them.

13:10 Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)

This is an opportunity for conditional jockeys to ride a winner at the home of jumps racing and it is a typically competitive affair. Past winners have a mixed record going forwards through the season, but with seven of the past ten winners being five-year-olds, Double Powerful looks a stand-out selection. He has been thriving since March, winning all five of his starts, and is 4lb well-in under a 7lb penalty. Last year’s winner American Sniper runs again, but might find this too much carrying 5lb more than last year.

Selection: Double Powerful

13:45 Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices' Chase (3m½f)

This race usually produces a good winner, but Thistlecrack was the last horse to go on to win a Grade 1 outside of novice company in 2016. Following an impressive win over the course and distance on his seasonal reappearance last month, Hyland is the one to beat. He jumped well throughout and can take another step forward here. Springwell Bay and Buddy One have stronger hurdle form, but need to improve over fences to land this.

Selection: Hyland

14:20 Shloer Chase (2m)

For the sixth year in a row the race will have four runners or less, and it looks a fairly uncompetitive affair with last year’s winner Jonbon likely to be much too good for the remainder. The winner of three Grade 1s last season, it looks likely he’ll take this on the way to further top-level success. Edwardstone is the most likely challenger and wasn’t far behind Jonbon a couple of times last season, but he should not be able to reverse that form.

Selection: Jonbon

14:55 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m5f)

This race sees the return of the cross country course and there is no denying the ability of some of the horses declared. Conflated being in the field means six runners will be out of the handicap and they are likely to find this tough. Busselton and Tommie Beau get in carrying just 10st 5lb compared with the 12st of Conflated, who despite having the best form in the book, has disappointed this season and looks vulnerable. Having been in good form and progressive through the summer, preference is for Tommie Beau.

Selection: Tommie Beau

15:30 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2m5f)

This is arguably the highlight of the day with two impressive winners from the October meeting going head to head in Potters Charm and Valgrand. Both are stepping up in trip but there is no reason to think this will be a problem for either of them. The preference is for Valgrand as he won what on paper looked a stronger race last time, while his finishing split also looked impressive on the clock. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him competing in the best novice hurdle races throughout the season.

Selection: Valgrand

16:00 Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m)

Another handicap hurdle and one of the most competitive races on the card. Model Approach is the only three-year-old in the field and likely to find this tough against older horses. Letterston Lily really catches the eye. She ran well last month at the course, but her jumping let her down at times. She is back down to two miles now, a trip she has won over in the past, and it is hoped the application of cheekpieces can bring out the best in her. She looks potentially well treated off an official rating of 114.

Selection: Letterston Lily