Saturday 16th November 2024
12.35 Cheltenham: JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle: We get things underway on Saturday at Cheltenham with the 12.35 which is the Grade 2 Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle over two miles and half of a furlong. I’m taking a chance on Static here for the team of Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen. He’s a French recruit who ran a fine race on his stable debut earlier this month when finishing a neck second to Liam Swagger in Listed company at Wetherby. That effort came on good ground which eases concerns on him ground-wise, and if building on that run he can certainly have a say in this. Static – 13/2 (Each-Way)
1.10 Cheltenham: Steel Plate & Sections Ltd Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase: Next up it’s the 1.10 which is a Class 3 handicap chase for amateur rider’s that’s ridden over three miles and a furlong. I’ve gone with The Newest One here for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Toby McCain-Mitchell who takes off five pounds. He won well over course and distance at the October meeting last time out under today’s rider and has every chance again here off five pounds higher. A lot of his rivals have question marks over their current form and he looks like one of the more solid options for me. The Newest One – 11/2 (Each-Way)
1.45 Cheltenham: Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase: It’s back up in grade at 1.45 with the Grade 2 Arkle Trial Novices Chase over two miles taking centre-stage. I’m chancing Petit Tonnerre here for the team of Jonjo O’Neil and Jonjo Jr. He’s not the most straightforward of horses, however, returned to the track with a fine effort at Aintree last month when finishing three-quarters of a length second to Imperial Saint. That rival has since come out and won by eight and a half lengths and is now rated 138, which would give the O’Neil charge some of the best form on offer here. If getting a clear round he can go well in what looks like an ordinary renewal of the race. Petit Tonnerre – 15/2 (Each-Way)
2.20 Cheltenham: Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase: The fourth race of the day is the most competitive contest of the afternoon and that’s the Paddy Power Gold Cup which is a Premier Handicap Chase over two miles and four furlongs. In this year’s renewal of the contest I’ve gone with Ga Law for Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan. He’s got a fine record at the track having won this race back in 2022 and more recently won another competitive handicap on trials day here last January. He returned to the track with another very solid effort when finishing second at Chepstow last month and I think comes here with every chance of another big run off just a pound higher than his latest effort. Ga Law – 13/2 (Each-Way)
2.55 Cheltenham: From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle: It’s further competitive handicap action at 2.55 this time over the smaller obstacles with a Class 2 handicap hurdle over three miles. I like Gowel Road here for the team of Nigel & Sam Twiston-Davies. I put him up on his last run which came here at the October Meeting where he finished second of twelve behind The Wallpark, who came into the race on a string of victories. I think that there’s a lot more to come from the Twiston-Davies eight-year-old this term and he can have a serious say in this off just a couple of pounds higher than his last run. He’s top-rated and should be making his presence felt. Gowel Road – 13/2 (Each-Way) (NB)
3.30 Cheltenham: Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle: The penultimate race on Saturday’s card will be the 3.30 which is a Class 3 handicap hurdle that’s contested over two miles and five furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Hamsiyann here on his stable debut for Tony Martin who’s to be ridden by Daniel King. He ran a fine race when last seen over hurdles at Ascot back in March when finishing a close third of nine in a competitive handicap, and also ran a fine race when finishing second when last seen behind Cesarewitch winner Alphonse Le Grande in the Chester Plate on the flat. He looks as though he could have a bit in hand here and a bold showing would be no surprise. Hamsiyann – 4/1 (Win) (NAP)
4.00 Cheltenham: Karndean Designflooring Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race: Concluding the day’s action will be the 4.00 which is a Listed mares bumper over two miles and half of a furlong. I’m going with Siog Geal here for Fergal O’Brien and Jonny Burke. She was a point-to-point winner who was a very encouraging second of twelve in a competitive Aintree bumper on her stable debut last month, and she should almost certainly improve for that run here. The yard has had success in bumpers at the Autumn & Winter meetings here in recent years and they have another live chance here. Siog Geal – 13/2 (Each-Way)
