CHELTENHAM NH NOVEMBER MEETING [OFF!!] - FRIDAY 15th NOVEMBER

The three day Cheltenham November Meeting commences this Friday featuring Countryside Day, a tradition dating back over two decades where money is raised for the Countryside Alliance and Racing Welfare causes.

There's a number of different events going on today and these include 10.45-11.25 in the Parade Ring, there will be a gundog display from Game Goer along with hawks and ferrets 11.25-11.40 racing legend Sir Anthony McCoy will receive a riding lesson from double Olympic medal-winning dressage rider Laura Tomlinson in the Parade Ring. At 11.40, Trail hounds will parade from the Parade Ring to the course, they will race at 11.55 and prior to that there will be a parade of some of GB's biggest Equine heroes, including: 

• Double Olympic Gold winning horses Big Star and Valegro 
• The Rio Olympic star and 2015 Badminton Winner, Chilli Morning
• Duel Cheltenham Festival winner Sprinter Sacre (below)

At 1.25, after the second race, The Cotswold Hunt and Hounds will parade along the course. It is a longstanding Countryside Day tradition that after the second race, a number of hunts from the south west and midlands will be on course, along with the Cotswold hounds. Racegoers are welcome to join the packs on the racecourse, ground conditions permitting. That all sounds great and the country folk will love it, maybe the townies will be less excited and will stay in the bars. For us it's the kick off for the NH season with the first BIG meeting now that the turf flat season has closed till spring.

NEWS - Today's meeting has been abandoned due to a waterlogged course, so no further update. Will keep a check on prospects for Saturday and Sunday !

Cheltenham have abandoned Friday's meeting and will inspect at 3pm on Friday to see if Saturday's card, featuring the BetVictor Gold Cup, can take place. A statement from the course read: "After 37mm rainfall in the past 18 hours, very sadly we have had to abandon racing at Cheltenham on Friday 15 November, as the course is flooded in areas as well as waterlogged in places. Ahead of racing on Saturday there will be a further inspection on Friday afternoon at 3pm. Further information will be issued accordingly. The weather outlook for the next few days is showers on Friday with dry days currently forecast for Saturday and Sunday." 

Surface:  Turf
Going:  Soft

12:40 - The Markel Insurance Amateur Riders Handicap Steeple Chase
(Class 3)  3m 1f [13 Runners]
A field of thirteen have been declared for this opening event of the meeting, headed by CLOTH CAP (JJ O'Neill) and Trevor Hemmings horses usually excel over 3m+ here. David Pipe runs two here, WHAT A MOMENT and also KNOW THE SCORE, the latter ridden by JJ Codd who is one of the more experienced amateurs and had plenty of racecourse miles on the clock so should be right up there. At a bigger price and one for the 'place' market players PLANTAGENET has been running well for Miss Gina Andrews and wouldn't be surprised if they have another big run in this company.

Result - .

13:15 - The Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Race
2m 1/2f  [10 Runners]
Will update this race later...as we hear the meeting is about to be called off due to water-logging. Awaiting further news. 

Result - .

13:50 - Betvictor Handicap Chase 
Class 2, 2m  [7 runners]
Friday's feature race has attracted a field of seven runners, top of these is the Paul Nicholls trained BRELAN D'AS who unseated Barry Geraghty here at the last meeting and will need to put in a better round of jumping this time, however is still second favourite to DOITFORTHEVILLAGE a 10yo of Paul Henderson's who while doesn't have the most obvious form from last two runs there are pieces of form in better races last season that can put him in the frame.

Result - .

14:25 - The Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Steeple Chase 
(Class 2) 2m 4 1/2f  [4 Runners]
Just the four line up for the novice chase now, where Nicky Henderson runs two including the likely favourite in BIRCHDALE this 5yo owned by JP McManus is making his seasonal reappearance and receives weight from two of his opponents but not from his stablemate ANGELS BREATH. David Pipe runs POKER PLAY who has already won at Ffos Las and should be fit to give the favourite plenty to think about. The top weight JARVEYS PLATE completes this small and select line up but I will side with Poker Play to spring a small surprise today.

Result - .

15:00 - The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 
(Class 2) 3m 6f  [11 Runners]
Meeting is now OFF.

Result - .

15:35 - The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race 
(Grade 2)  2m 5f  [7 Runners]
Racing for today has been called off.

Result - .

Updates for Saturday and Sunday will follow soon, and we should also have the results here too, enjoy the meeting.