24th OCTOBER 2020
Day Two of the opening season fixture at the home of NH racing, yes the wait is finally over as the days begin to get shorter and the crisp mornings return, so what will Saturday bring us with the many already looking ahead to March and the Festival itself, what clues will this weekend give us. Coverage will be on ITV during the afternoon.
Saturday sees another fantastic seven races, including The Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Steeple Chase [3:50]. The meeting will get underway on Saturday just after 2pm with a 2m Hurdle event and should conclude around 5:35pm with a NH Flat race over 2m.
Going: Good [Good to soft in places].
2:05 The Masterson Holdings Hurdle (Class 2)
2m 87y [7 runners]
The opening event on Saturday has a field of just seven, headed by the likely favourite here ALLMANKIND who was successful here as part of a trio of wins and might be hard to beat again. Also a winner here is the ex-French trained BOTOX HAS [Won 11/2] who is now with the Gary Moore yard and is most likely to trouble the fav. While the filly ANNA BUNINA has vastly improved this year and has the assistance of Richard Johnson so could be an each way / place bet on the exchanges.
Winner - (3) Botox Has @11/2 [Joshua Moore].
2:40 Best Odds At Matchbook Novices' Chase (Class 2)
2m 3f 166y [4 runners]
Good quality novice chase event up next for us but just the four runners today, the experienced 9yo COOLE CODY was winning a novice chase at Newton Abbott earlier in the summer and returned to finish runner up at the same course about a month later, clearly in good heart and may well make the running in this smaller field. The Skelton team run NOT THAT FUISSE who has had a year of chasing but finally came good in a small race up at Perth, might find one or two a bit stronger but does seem to jump well. Paul Nicholls has SOUTHFIELD STONE [Won 2/1]here who also managed to find a three runner race to win at Musselburgh respected yard, but doesn't look one of their star turns, finally we have the chase debutant PILEON from Philip Hobbs yard and this might be the interesting one with the weight allowance and was a short head runner up in the Martin Pipe race at the festival a lightly raced son of Yeats, should stay this far over fences and the one for me in a tricky race.
2:05 The Masterson Holdings Hurdle (Class 2)
2m 87y [7 runners]
The opening event on Saturday has a field of just seven, headed by the likely favourite here ALLMANKIND who was successful here as part of a trio of wins and might be hard to beat again. Also a winner here is the ex-French trained BOTOX HAS [Won 11/2] who is now with the Gary Moore yard and is most likely to trouble the fav. While the filly ANNA BUNINA has vastly improved this year and has the assistance of Richard Johnson so could be an each way / place bet on the exchanges.
Winner - (3) Botox Has @11/2 [Joshua Moore].
2:40 Best Odds At Matchbook Novices' Chase (Class 2)
2m 3f 166y [4 runners]
Good quality novice chase event up next for us but just the four runners today, the experienced 9yo COOLE CODY was winning a novice chase at Newton Abbott earlier in the summer and returned to finish runner up at the same course about a month later, clearly in good heart and may well make the running in this smaller field. The Skelton team run NOT THAT FUISSE who has had a year of chasing but finally came good in a small race up at Perth, might find one or two a bit stronger but does seem to jump well. Paul Nicholls has SOUTHFIELD STONE [Won 2/1]here who also managed to find a three runner race to win at Musselburgh respected yard, but doesn't look one of their star turns, finally we have the chase debutant PILEON from Philip Hobbs yard and this might be the interesting one with the weight allowance and was a short head runner up in the Martin Pipe race at the festival a lightly raced son of Yeats, should stay this far over fences and the one for me in a tricky race.
Winner - (3) Southfield Stone @2/1 [Harry Cobden].
3:15 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
2m 7f 208y [18 runners].
The first testing handicap hurdle today, a big field of 18 and on soft ground might be strung out come the finish. Interested in some of those that come here on the back of a recent win, LOCKS CORNER is one such improving horse and carries the JP McManus silks, should run well in search of that hat trick success today. THE DEVILS DROP has been absent for two years but Alan King's 7yo was already completing a hat trick of his own when last seen, assuming he returns fit enough to do justice is another one to be excited about this season. The Skelton team team up with I'D BETTER GO NOW who won impressively last time too and looks one to follow getting weight from the field, while top weight TOBEFAIR might also attract some support having won this event last season.
Winner - (2) Honest Vic @12/1 [Richard Patrick].
3:50 Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase (Class 2)
3m 1f [11 runners]
Interesting race with top weight FRODON [Won 9/2] running in a handicap should enjoy this course and a big opportunity to give Bryony Frost another success. CLOTH CAP doesn't have a lot of miles on the clock for an 8yo and is in good hands to improve again, might be a place bet here at least for Jonjo O'Neill and carries the colours of Trevor Hemmings. Veteran COGRY is a regular in this race and while likely to run well should be vulnerable to an improving type.
Winner - (1) Frodon @9/2 [Bryony Frost].
4:25 Lara Telfer Reined In For Racing Welfare Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)
2m 7f 208y [6 runners]
Another small field here where STREETS OF DOYEN [Won 11/4] looks the one to be on, Richard Johnson in the saddle with the four timer in sight. The most likely to chase the fav home is MINELLA ENCORE this 8yo has moved from Ireland, the ex Willie Mullins inmate is lightly raced, and with Dr Newland now and successful straight away when last seen at Uttoxeter and now stepped up in trip.
Winner - (1) Streets of Doyen @ 11/4 [Richard Johnson].
5:00 Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Class 3)
3m 1f [13 runners]
A race for the amateur jockeys now, looking for those with plenty of experience which leads us to JEN'S BOY initially, Sam Waley-Cohen a Gold Cup winning jockey has experience of the big fences here and that should help, though his charge is struggling to get his head in front with three runner up efforts so far, still one of the more likely winners. PLANTAGENET was runner up here last year for Gina Andrews so very confident they are capable of a repeat performance with chances to go one better, they'll be my pair against the field in a race that I wouldn't want to be too deeply involved.
Winner - (13) Bermeo @20/1 [Mr Angus Cheleda].
5:35 The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Standard Open NH Flat Race
2m 87y [15 runners]
Our finale here is a bumper, not usually a race I'd be that interested in but with the big yards represented and we are headed by ANIMAL who won his only start in February at Market Rasen a likely type for all Def Leppard fans out there. The David Pipe yard have a new recruit from Ireland with MAJOR ROBINSON and should find some nice races for him over hurdles in time. Of the newcomers I like the sounds of I AM MAXIMUS [Won 4/1] (Nicky Henderson) and this son of Authorised should be fine over 2m on the flat but for me this is a race for the notebooks and see how they progress.
Winner - (11) I Am Maximus @4/1 [Nico De Boinville].
That's all for this meeting but the racing comes around quickly and we will be back here at Cheltenham in about three weeks for their November 'Countryside' meeting which starts on Friday 13th November and also includes the Bet Victor Gold Cup on the Saturday and a family themed day on the Sunday with the Greatwood Hurdle the feature.
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