THE final day of the November Meeting features the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, which is as competitive as ever with a full field of 20 runners.
This valuable race has become a strong form guide for the season ahead and is always an important reference when looking at the Festival, with younger up-and-comers tending to dominate in recent times.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.
See you there!
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1:45 Cheltenham – Bottlegreen Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m 4f)
Kim Roque comes here with chasing experience under his belt, having won at Dieppe for his previous yard, and his second back at Dieppe on his final start to Jumps des Mottes in a listed handicap reads well, as the winner is smart.
A mark of 122 to start his career off with looks fair, and he’s totally proven on soft/heavy ground too. There’s a lot to like about his chances if fit for his reappearance on his first appearance for his Irish trainer.
2:55 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (3m 3½f)
Tanganyika (nap) was the Midlands National runner-up last season and won twice during the same campaign over trips of around three miles.
He is a really enthusiastic traveller and is a progressive seven-year-old who will handle conditions.
Transmission looked like he was going to need the run at the October meeting and that proved the case when he finished unplaced to Three Card Brag. He won at this meeting last year on his second start of the season, and he will be suited by the conditions as well as the trip. Remember he was fifth to Haiti Couleurs last season in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival over three miles six furlongs when given too much to do
3:30 Cheltenham – Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)
Gibbs Road was impressive last season when taking the Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock when beating Give It To Me Oj by six lengths.
He then showed on seasonal reappearance that he had retained that form when looking smart in a handicap at Chepstow last month when winning with ears pricked to beat Torrent by five and half lengths.
Gibbs Road will get further, which is always an important factor at Cheltenham, and like last year’s winner Burdett Road, he is a four-year-old.
Serious Challenge looked in need of his reappearance run at Aintree three weeks ago after finishing fourth to Ace Of Spades over two miles four furlongs when being held up which didn’t suit him.
He will be able to race prominently with the drop back to two miles and he will strip a lot fitter too than at Aintree.
Serious Challenge won three times over hurdles last season, including in the heavy at Ayr when beating the useful Bowensonfire, which is smart form.
Let’s remember he was a 102-rated performer on the flat at his best and ran in listed company.
This has looked the plan, and this five-year-old has a good chance from down at the bottom of the weights.
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