THE first day of the three-day November Meeting at Cheltenham features a strong Irish challenge and they certainly look to hold the key to the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 with Music Drive and Hubrisko looking like the protagonists here, despite the exciting Hermes Allen from the Paul Nicholls yard, who won so easily at Stratford on hurdling debut being in the field.

Earlier in the afternoon Astigar Unibet 5/1, from the David Pipe yard, will be having his first start for 606 days in the Markel Insurance Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. The Pipe team have who won this contest three times in the last nine years and Astigar has had this as a target. There is a strong Irish challenge there though.

Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or #athome watching on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers – The Wine Tipster. 

1.45 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2m)

The Glancing Queen in her first season of chasing had three wins from five starts and this included a success at Cheltenham when dropped back in trip to two miles at the April meeting to improve once again to take a Mares’ Handicap by an easy six lengths, giving lumps of weight away. She was a very good second to L’Homme Presse in the Dipper Novices’ Chase and this has to be marked up over two miles four and half furlongs when beaten ten lengths. The drying ground will work in her favour, and she should find conditions ideal and can outclass this field.

2.20 Cheltenham – SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Hereditary Rule (nap) won over hurdlers at Downpatrick last time out in September, however he is a much better chaser as he showed at Cartmel in August, when jumping fluently on good ground to win easily beating Jelski. That was his third success over fences, and he is having his first start at Cheltenham, which could really suit this good jumper on drying ground.

2.55 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Magic Dancer is one of the few runners who will be suited by two miles four furlongs rather than three miles, the usual distance in these Veteran’ chases, as plenty will want further with softer ground. Magic Dancer, for a veteran chaser, has a few miles on the clock in this sphere and is 2-8 over fences to date. This trip on decent ground is ideal for him, as he showed on his last appearance when giving Red Happy and the rest of the field a running lesson from the front at Ludlow. Magic Dancer won first time up last year so can go well fresh and will have too much speed for this field.

3.30 Cheltenham – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 5f)

Music Drive for Gordon Elliott can fend off Hubrisko, his main challenger, from the Willie Mullins yard in a competitive contest. Music Drive looked to be crying out for further when third to Mofasa here at The Showcase meeting over a furlong shorter than this trip after being outpaced turning in, then making a bad mistake at the last and yet was still closing steadily at the finish. Music Drive will want three miles in time, so you would expect more use to be made of his undoubted stamina here and that, with the addition of cheekpieces this time, should see an improved effort.

4.00 Cheltenham – Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m ½f)

Phoenix Aquilus can reward each way players in a race which has been won by a 33/1 shot in the last three runnings. Phoenix Aquilus, who was fit after three starts on the flat in September, finished third over hurdles last month at Huntingdon to Geometrical in a falsely-run race on good ground. Phoenix Aquilus was doing all his best work at the finish and gave every impression that he could have been much closer on that occasion. That was his fourth start over hurdles, having finished runner-up in two other starts and this well-bred type will be suited by Cheltenham on his first appearance after a wind operation.

Pepe Le Moko is a four-year-old having only his third career start and could be overlooked here. He stepped up from his debut performance at Chepstow in February with an improved performance at Newton Abbot last month when third to Gin Coco. There is more to come from this unexposed type and he worth an each way wager.

*Odds subject to change. See website for details.