Following the news that Cheltenham Racecourse is in a tier 2 area of England, the racecourse will now be able to welcome a limited number of racegoers when we race after 2nd December 2020. "We’re looking forward to opening our doors again and working hard to make sure we provide an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone who joins us on course".
Enjoy the first of two exciting days of racing with a great card and live racing on the ITV 4 channel (Uk viewers).
Surface: Turf.
Friday has a seven race card, including the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase [3:00], and will begin at 11:30 with 'The British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle'. Last years cross country chase was won by Easysland (pic below) who was only 4th in a similar race here last month which was won by Kingswell Theatre.
Surface: Turf.
Weather: Light rain expected till about 2pm, max temp 10c
Going: Good to soft.
Result - (6) Make Me A Believer @16/5 [Tom Scudamore].
12:05 International Decorative Surfaces Novices' Chase
Result - (1) Happygolucky @13/8f [David Bass].
12:40 Catesby Handicap Hurdle
Result - (12) Breffniboy @15/2. [Tom Buckley]
1:15 CF Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Mares' Handicap Chase
Result - (4) Some Neck @18/1 [Mr B W Harvey].
Going: Good to soft.
11:30 British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle
2m 179y (Class 3 6 runners)
An earlier start to allow for the Peterborough Chase later on the card, just the six runners here and I'll be on MAKE ME A BELIEVER [WON 16/5] from the David Pipe yard, runner up last time, was close upsides to the winning favourite there and with that experience is the one for me this time. Paul Nicholls runs LUCKY ONE who finally broke his duck at Southwell by 14L while ANY NEWS is likely to go off favourite here having won both starts to date and could be quite smart.
Result - (6) Make Me A Believer @16/5 [Tom Scudamore].
12:05 International Decorative Surfaces Novices' Chase
3m 1f 56y (Grade 2 5 runners)
Another small field here, only five to consider, and jumping will be key over the extended three miles. HAPPYGOLUCKY (T. Kim Bailey) won a beginners chase at Stratford and then followed that with an odds on defeat by Getaway Trump in three runner affair, looks vulnerable on that run, next is L'AIR DU VENT (C L Tizzard) didn't jump that great but still won at Exeter, entitled to improve but mistakes could be more costly here. THE MIGHTY DON (N Gifford) finished in third place in that very same race and might need a few more races to find his way over fences, FABULOUS SAGA has moved yards from Willie Mullins over to Paul Nicholls, this is his first run for two years so maybe some patience is needed so that leaves us with HOLD THE NOTE who has the benefit of plenty of experience over fences without winning for Mick Channon maybe today can be his day.
Result - (1) Happygolucky @13/8f [David Bass].
12:40 Catesby Handicap Hurdle
2m 179y (Grade 3 17 runners)
NORDIC COMBINED (D Pipe) went close last time out at Taunton in a large field while BREFFNIBOY [WON 15/2] (J Farrelly) has won his last three and takes a step up in class but clearly still in good order. Will be interesting to see if recent course winner LIVELY CITIZEN (David Jeffreys) can back up his big price win here again has no weight to carry here with same jockey booked. [2nd 7/1]
NORDIC COMBINED (D Pipe) went close last time out at Taunton in a large field while BREFFNIBOY [WON 15/2] (J Farrelly) has won his last three and takes a step up in class but clearly still in good order. Will be interesting to see if recent course winner LIVELY CITIZEN (David Jeffreys) can back up his big price win here again has no weight to carry here with same jockey booked. [2nd 7/1]
Result - (12) Breffniboy @15/2. [Tom Buckley]
1:15 CF Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Mares' Handicap Chase
2m 4f 127y (Class 3 12 runners)
An interesting chase for Mares headed by the 8yo ARIAN with Richard Johnson booked to ride, won her last two events for trainer Philip Hobbs and Johnson was on board for the latest win. BLACK TULIP [2nd 11/2] is another recent winner and should also go close again having won last year too off this similar mark, while AGENT VALDEZ is another with improvement in her lightly raced over fences gets plenty of weight allowance too .
Result - (12) Madera Mist @33/1 [Alan Johns].
An interesting chase for Mares headed by the 8yo ARIAN with Richard Johnson booked to ride, won her last two events for trainer Philip Hobbs and Johnson was on board for the latest win. BLACK TULIP [2nd 11/2] is another recent winner and should also go close again having won last year too off this similar mark, while AGENT VALDEZ is another with improvement in her lightly raced over fences gets plenty of weight allowance too .
Result - (12) Madera Mist @33/1 [Alan Johns].
1:50 Fitzdares Club Loves The Peterborough Chase (Grade 2)
2m 3f 168y (Class 1 8 runners)
Nicky Henderson’s popular performer TOP NOTCH took this Grade Two prize when it was held at its usual home, Huntingdon, last December and he can win again this afternoon. The meeting was lost to waterlogging last weekend but this race has been switched to Prestbury Park today. Henderson also saddles Mister Fisher, who was pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. Tom George is two-handed with Champion Chase third Bun Doran and recent Newbury scorer Clondaw Castle while Dolos, Fanion D’Estruval, Glen Forsa and Kalashnikov complete the line-up.
Result - (3) Mister Fisher @9/2 [Nico de Boinville].
Nicky Henderson’s popular performer TOP NOTCH took this Grade Two prize when it was held at its usual home, Huntingdon, last December and he can win again this afternoon. The meeting was lost to waterlogging last weekend but this race has been switched to Prestbury Park today. Henderson also saddles Mister Fisher, who was pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. Tom George is two-handed with Champion Chase third Bun Doran and recent Newbury scorer Clondaw Castle while Dolos, Fanion D’Estruval, Glen Forsa and Kalashnikov complete the line-up.
Result - (3) Mister Fisher @9/2 [Nico de Boinville].
2:25 Unibet Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
3m 2f (Class 1 7 runners)
Another Grade 3 chase this afternoon only the seven runners which lessens our each way options, top weighted BLACK CORTON seeks to regain his chasing form having unseated at Ascot last time out, regularly rider Bryony Frost in the saddle. COURT MAID travels over from Ireland and has won four times this year, stays the trip well and looks a safe jumper of fences one to follow. STORM CONTROL recent win here was in a conditional jockey event and will have the same jockey on board today, stays the trip, the opposition looks a little stronger too.
Result - (5) Storm Control @5/1 [Richard Patrick].
Another Grade 3 chase this afternoon only the seven runners which lessens our each way options, top weighted BLACK CORTON seeks to regain his chasing form having unseated at Ascot last time out, regularly rider Bryony Frost in the saddle. COURT MAID travels over from Ireland and has won four times this year, stays the trip well and looks a safe jumper of fences one to follow. STORM CONTROL recent win here was in a conditional jockey event and will have the same jockey on board today, stays the trip, the opposition looks a little stronger too.
Result - (5) Storm Control @5/1 [Richard Patrick].
3:00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
3m 6f 37y (Class 2 11 runners)
Another cross country event held at Cheltenham, shame they don't set up another track to have this sort of event but that seems unlikely (Punchestown excluded of course). Eleven runners declared, headed by STEP BACK a 10yo and winner of his last two staying chases. Recent Cross Country course winner KINGSWELL THEATRE can also be expected to go well again with Tom Scudamore riding again, caused a little upset then and will be a shorter price today. The Irish threat in these sort of races should never be ignored particularly runners from Enda Bolger who has MY HOMETOWN in the famous JP McManus colours. Ignoring the pulled up status in a hurdle race last time was a neck second over this course and distance two years ago, could still have a big say today. Gordon Elliott also runs OUT SAM and Jessica Harrington runs NEVERUSHACON who was winning two out of his last three races at Punchestown over the banks and could be interesting too.
Another cross country event held at Cheltenham, shame they don't set up another track to have this sort of event but that seems unlikely (Punchestown excluded of course). Eleven runners declared, headed by STEP BACK a 10yo and winner of his last two staying chases. Recent Cross Country course winner KINGSWELL THEATRE can also be expected to go well again with Tom Scudamore riding again, caused a little upset then and will be a shorter price today. The Irish threat in these sort of races should never be ignored particularly runners from Enda Bolger who has MY HOMETOWN in the famous JP McManus colours. Ignoring the pulled up status in a hurdle race last time was a neck second over this course and distance two years ago, could still have a big say today. Gordon Elliott also runs OUT SAM and Jessica Harrington runs NEVERUSHACON who was winning two out of his last three races at Punchestown over the banks and could be interesting too.
Result - (4) Some Neck @18/1 [Mr B W Harvey].
3:35 Citipost Handicap Hurdle
2m 7f 213y (Class 2 14 runners)
2m 7f 213y (Class 2 14 runners)
Our finale is a tricky looking handicap hurdle, with top weight and recent Aintree winner UNOWHATIMEANHARRY of interest again despite his age of twelve. I'll have to be on the right side of COME ON TEDDY [NAP] (WON 11/2) for personal reasons the 6yo won well over the trip two starts back and 10/1 seems a decent win/place price for me. ON THE BLIND SIDE is another to watch for Nicky Henderson but we will take the other two against the field this time.
Result - (12) Come on Teddy @11/2 [Sam Twiston-Davies].
The results from this meeting will be updated later on during the afternoon and we hope you enjoy a good weekend too, more to come on Saturday here at Cheltenham. Hope to be able to go racing in 2021 sometime, until then stay safe.
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