The concluding act of Cheltenham’s November Meeting on Sunday is a six-race card brimming with action to whet the appetite for jumps racing fans.
The Greatwood Hurdle is routinely a tough puzzle to work out and headlines Sunday’s action, while it is preceded by a Shloer Chase featuring the previous two Queen Mother Champion Chase winners.
Racing from Cheltenham on Sunday is from 1.10pm-4.00pm and you can see it all via live streaming when logged into MansionBet – alongside every race from the UK and Ireland. Here’s our look ahead to the card.
1.10 – mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase (3m½f)
Does He Know took the scalp of Threeunderthrufive at Chepstow last month and did so deservingly.
The latter won well since at Exeter, while Kim Bailey’s charge was maybe fortunate to see the re-opposing Undersupervision erring and colliding with a running rail here.
All three have their merits again, but OSCAR ELITE is fancied to take quickly to chasing for in-form trainer Colin Tizzard. He was second in the Albert Bartlett here in March over timber and this former Irish point winner has chaser written all over him.
Selection: Oscar Elite @ 3/1
1.45 – Jewson Click And Collect Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 3m3½f)
Kelso winner Empire De Maulde has gone up 5lb and isn’t likely to go down easy under Brian Hughes for trainer James Ewart, but Bryony Frost and YALA ENKI may have unfinished business with this race.
They were short-headed out of the prize a year ago by Ramses De Teillee after the pair had charged miles clear of everything else. Only rated 1lb higher now, the Paul Nicholls-trained veteran bids for compensation.
Selection: Yala Enki @ 10/3
2:20 – Shloer Chase (Grade 2, 2m)
A race to savour – Politologue was an 11th-hour withdrawal from the defence of his Champion Chase crown here in March.
The Paul Nicholls-trained grey has won first time out in four of the last five years, his only miss when second to Defi Du Seuil in this in 2019, but he is now a ten-year-old however and was well beaten at Aintree when last out in the Melling Chase.
Rouge Vif has joined him at Ditcheat this summer, but has something to prove in this grade, having been well beaten last season by all three of these rivals at various stages.
Nube Negra might have won that Champion Chase in March but for a stumble at the last, one that handed the initiative to likeable mare PUT THE KETTLE ON, as she added the two-mile championship to her Arkle win a year earlier and success in this race last time.
She’s 4-4 at her beloved Prestbury Park and still the one to beat for Henry De Bromhead and Aidan Coleman.
Selection: Put The Kettle On @ 6/4
2:55 – Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3, 2m½f)
As expected, a fiendish challenge for punters. No Ordinary Joe has been doing his winning over further, but Nicky Henderson feels he’ll cope with this test and he’s jostling with long-absent Dan Skelton runner West Cork for favouritism.
Course winners Camprond and Botox Has are possibles, but maybe TRITONIC can hand Alan King a third Greatwood Hurdle in five years. He was underwhelming in the Triumph Hurdle in March and, on the face of it, finished second as joint-fav over C&D last month.
He was attempting to give 8lb to the potentially smart winner I Like To Move It there and had another useful one, Stepney Causeway, well behind in third (also getting the weight).
4YOs have a decent record in this race and Tritonic should give a solid account.
Selection: Tritonic @ 12/1
3:30 – Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m½f)
The aforementioned I LIKE TO MOVE IT is 2-2 over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies and certainly looked a useful prospect in that defeat of Tritonic over C&D three weeks ago.
He looks the one holding the ace-hand now – though rivals Washington and Pikar are sure to improve and Auteuil winner Sonigino is an interesting recruit for Paul Nicholls.
Selection: I Like To Move It @ 11/10
4:00 – High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire Open NH Flat Race (Listed, 2m½f)
After winning in style at Ffos Las in May, TIMEFORATUNE was snapped up John Hales for £175,000 and sent to Paul Nicholls.
He made it 2-2 at Chepstow last month on his return, more workmanlike than before but seemingly always in control and he’s got leading claims again.
Flying Sara is also 2-2 in bumper but has been missing for a year, while Aucunrisque wasn’t beaten far in a strong C&D last month and is on the shortlist too.
Selection: Timeforatune @ 6/4
*All odds correct at time of writing