CHELTENHAM NH NOVEMBER MEETING - SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER

The November Meeting takes centre stage. Day Two of the biggest Jump racing fixture before Christmas features the iconic Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham Racecourse. The racing highlight of The November Meeting always draws a large, high-class field and was won last year by Happy Diva trained by Kerry Lee and ridden by Richard Patrick. This 2m 4f race should be off about 2:15 and the meeting is of course live on ITV Racing. 

Surface:  Turf
Going:  Good to soft, Good in places

12:30  The JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Grade 2)

(registered as The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle)

2m 87y  (Grade 2  8 runners)
Saturday opens with a decent juvenile contest, eight 3yo's led by Gordon Elliot's unbeaten DUFFLE COAT [Won 2/1] who looks a good prospect indeed winning by 8l at Wetherby last time. Has competition from the likes of Paul Nicholls ex French HELL RED a 12l winner at Chepstow on Uk debut and the yard pick from any number of possible inmates. Those two likely to be hard to beat, support for the likes of Adagio (D Pipe) or Cabot Cliffs (D Skelton) would be interesting. 

Result - (1) Duffle Coat @2/1 [Robbie Power].

1:05  The South West Syndicate Handicap Steeple Chase

(Conditional Jockeys’ and Amateur Riders)

3m 1f  (Class 3  12 runners)

An interesting race for conditionals and amateurs next, looking at the jockey bookings one that does stand out is LAMANVER PIPPIN with William Biddick booked, he was on board when a big price third at the Cheltenham festival and has a decent record over fences. The other selection would be the top weight KILFILUM CROSS with Mr Alex Edwards and another combination who ran at the Festival finishing runner up in the Kim Muir chase.

Result - (7) Storm Control @5/1 [Richard Patrick].

1:40  The From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices Steeple Chase

2m  (Grade 2  6 runners)

Just the six declared for this Arkle trial, headed by the likely favourite FUSIL RAFFLES who gave Nicky Henderson a nice win over fences here last month and looks to have a future over the larger obstacles. ELDORADO ALLEN [Won 13/2] won his chase debut at Newton Abbot and is likely to give the selection most to think about unless Paul Nicholls talented hurdler QUEL DESTIN takes to fences at the first time, but this seems a hot race to start out in and we shall instead look at the interesting 4yo filly ZARKAREVA sent over from Ireland, already has two novice chase wins and she has a handy weight allowance too so considered for a place.

Result - (2) Eldorado Allen @13/2 [Robbie Power].

2:15  The Paddy Power Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 3)

2m 4f 44y  (Grade 3  17 runners)
The feature race of the day, now sponsored by Paddy Power, a decent field of seventeen have been declared. The race features the first two home in last years contest, Happy Diva (Kerry Lee) and Brelan D'as (P Nicholls) return again. We are keen on the chances of back to back Cheltenham winner SIMPLY THE BETTS now races off a mark of 157, could well have more to offer this season. David Pipe now trains SIRUH DU LAC who was only seen twice last season and was running well when falling two out in a race won by Simple the Betts, is not discounted in a hot race and was previously a prolific winner earlier in his career - fell at 1st.

Result - (16) Coole Cody @10/1  [T J O'Brien].

2:50  The Paddy Power 3pm Kick Off Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

2m 7f 208y  (Class 1  12 runners)
We return to hurdling now after the big race is complete, a race which was won last year by GOLAN FORTUNE who returns to the line up again today but has hardly been in outstanding form since that win and is passed over today in favour of the likes of TEA CLIPPER (Tom Lacey) a winner of four out of his five career starts over hurdles and DANDY DAN (Kim Bailey) who has been chasing and might be able to exploit a lenient handicap mark. Another making a return to the smaller obstacles is POKER PLAY the David Pipe 7yo and has the talent to certainly place here.

Result - (2) On The Blind Side @7/1 [Nico de Boinville].

3:25  The Paddy Power First Millionaire Qualifier Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

2m 5f  (Class 2  10 runners)

KEPPAGE could well see these off, has won three on the bounce and no reason to suggest he's not got further improvement in him, a similar profile to CAPTAIN TOM CAT who also has a 7lb claimer to make things easier in this but I will be looking towards TOPOFTHECOTSWOLDS for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies the horse often leads and might be able to stay on up the hill with stamina proven and has been chasing too so back to hurdles with a place finish not out of the question. 

Result - (7) Stimulating Song @9/1  [P J Brennan].

3:55  The Karndean Design Flooring Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed)

2m 87y  (Class 1  10 runners)

The concluding 'bumper' race is a decent event of it's class and only two of the ten field have failed to win a contest so far. All should go on to be success later in their careers but for today we will have two against the field, Dan Skelton's filly ELLE EST BELLE [Won Dh 16/5] a winner at Aintree and JERSEY LADY [3rd 33/1] for trainer Oliver Sherwood.

Result - Dead Heat
(4) Elle Est Belle @16/5  [Harry Skelton].

(6) Ishkhara Lady @11/2  [S Bowen].

An update for Sunday's meeting should also be available soon including news of any further inspections if needed.