THE first day of the three-day November Meeting at Cheltenham includes the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, which is a race that is an important feature at Cheltenham. We saw Kingswell Theatre win from out of the Handicap last year, following up on his success in 2017. It is quite possible we will get another winner from out of the Handicap this time around. The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle looks a cracker with Gelino Bello and Off Your Rocco heading the market. There will be of course plenty of Festival clues across the card at the home of jump racing.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or #athome.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster.
1.10 Cheltenham – Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)
Skatman (nap) looks simply too well handicapped to ignore off 122 and can take this contest, which usually goes to runners near the head of the market. Skatman’s Newton Abbot win on seasonal debut last month has been franked by both the second and third since and if you go back to his point success back in April 2019, he beat Barbados Buck’s and Lieutenant Rocco, who are both 140+ rated now. He has won on good to soft and good going so conditions are fine.
Unibet 11/4 win
The Wrekin will come on from his seasonal debut at Chepstow when finishing unplaced and represents each way value here. The Wrekin won at Warwick as he liked in May when stepped up to this trip and then followed up at Hexham in June on his penultimate start. They were two good performances, and the ground will be suit with the Henry Daly yard in strong form.
Unibet 20/1 each way
1.45 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2m)
Kap Auteuil can make it a five timer for trainer Toby Lawes, former assistant to Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, and give him his first Cheltenham success. Kap Auteuil is making that step up in grade here, however he has been making swift progress in 2021 and won at Stratford in October on seasonal debut. He more than deserves his chance and ground will suit.
Unibet 11/2 each way
2.55 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m 6f)
Balko Des Flos was second in the Grand National last season and then had a pipe opener at Galway last month. He will come on plenty for that run and whilst he unseated Rachael Blackmore here over this course at The Festival, he must have a very strong chance on his return to Cheltenham.
Unibet 7/2 win
Friends Don’t Ask is well out of the handicap but that didn’t stop Kingswell Theatre last year. If you ignore his run last time out when he was favourite and never travelling at Wincanton, he has each way claims if taking to this unique course. This six-year-old has had a good season with two wins from his six starts and has only finished unplaced on one occasion. He is proven on good going and the cross country could ride quicker than the stated good to soft.
Unibet 25/1 each way
4.00 Cheltenham – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m ½f)
Flamenco De Kerser shaped well in September on his first start after a summer break when finishing third to Borak at Newton Abbot on Handicap debut off a mark of 107 and he looks the type to take a significant step forward. Flamenco De Kerser is usually held up so he can come from off a strong pace and stay on well up the hill to reward each way players.
Unibet 20/1 each way
