It’s the first big festival of the jumps season, as we go back to Cheltenham for the November meeting. Day One looks to be competitive with a novice chase and a novice hurdle with plenty of talent. Plus, we’ve action over the cross-country track too. Let’s dive in on Day One
Nothing Much…
1:10 – Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys H’cap Hurdle – Whatsupwithyou @ 15/2 (William Hill)
The first contest at Cheltenham looks a humdinger of a handicap, with plenty of emerging talent both equine and human. With a dry Autumn, good ground horses are still the ones to side with and Whatsupwithyou has been consistent on his last four runs, including on good ground. He reappeared at Fontwell and was denied half a length in the finish but remains on the same mark today. Conditional Callum Pritchard takes off 10 pounds which sees him tumble down the handicap. Pritchard also has a decent strike rate with three wins and four placings in his last 11 rides.
A horse making his seasonal reappearance in this contest is Il Va De Soi. Despite most of his victories coming on soft ground, he has the make-up of an improving six-year-old. He dominated on his final appearance at Uttoxeter scoring by five lengths. A change of jockey to Alice Stevens has also shown improvement, with the conditional winning twice and placing once on three rides on this mount. A definite player at 14/1 (William Hill).
An ultra-consistent horse in the race is Stay If U Want To for the O’Neill stable. Despite being no match for the winner on reappearance at Wincanton he has still never found outside the top two in all hurdle starts. He’s already low in the handicap off rating but is further improved with a relatively new name in Benjamin Macey. Could find the frame once more at 22/1 (William Hill).
Buddy, This One’s For You
1:45 – Mucking Brilliant Novices’ Chase (Listed) – Buddy One @ 11/2 (William Hill)
Running off peak hurdle form after finishing fourth in both Cheltenham and Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdles, Buddy One wasn’t at his best last time out in a three-runner chase at Wexford. However, I’m willing to forgive that run and base it off his debut win at Galway when if he jumped well and went clear up the homestraight. Given his course form over hurdles and likes good ground, he looks a more qualified candidate than the top two British hopes
Cross The Cheltenham Countryside
2:55 – Glenfarclas Cross Country H’cap Chase– Tommie Beau @ 11/2 (William Hill)
With the Festival Cross Country Chase now turned back to a handicap, this could offer some valuable clues for that prestigious contest in around five months. But looking at the competition now, I’m going against Delta Work and siding with Tommie Beau.
He’s a stayer who’s versatile on ground, but has a preference for better ground. Form is in the book too, when beating subsequent Cheltenham chase winner Lisnamult Lad back over hurdles at Cartmel in May. He weakened last time out after leading in the Durham National at Sedgefield, a race he had won the year before. He looks well-handicapped and has apparently schooled well over banks according to his trainer.
Representing France, Sweet David comes into this race in very consistent form. He lost out by a nose contesting a X-County chase in France last time out, and was seven lengths behind dual Grand National finisher Roi Mage two starts ago. Given his vast experience, he looks mightily well-handicapped in this contest and the French do have a habit of surprising a few. 8/1 (General) to shock once more.
Isn’t It Grand?
3:30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade Two) – Valgrand @ 6/4 (General)
There was only one eyecatcher at the October meeting, in fact for the whole early season. Valgrand wowed everybody when hacking up by 17 lengths from the front. And whilst Potters Charm was good, he didn’t produce the same wow factor. Dan Skelton, despite complaints of a backlog due to the ground, has been the man to side with for the early part of this season. And this hose looks pretty special.
