The first day of the three-day November Meeting at the home jump racing looks set to be an enthralling and informative meeting. The feature race of day one is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase over three miles six furlongs, with runners having to negotiate 32 obstacles including banks, ditches and hedges. Glenfarclas are building up a long association with this race and they are rewarded with a fascinating renewal as the 1-2 in March Delta Work and Galvin take each other alongside many intriguing challenges running off much lower weights. This race has been an excellent addition to the jump racing calendar.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.
See you there!
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.45 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2m)
Do Your Job who is now with the Lucinda Russell yard after Micheal Scudamore joined the team is a very interesting contender here. He is dropping back to two miles for the first time since December 2021 and for all he’s won over further he’s been weakening out of races after having looked threatening a few times. On seasonal debut this looked the case again in the Old Roan at Aintree, but he looked in need of the run anyway. Admittedly he is hard to assess, however remember he won a Grade 2 at Ayr in April 2022, as well as lining up in Grade 1 company too and this looks a lot easier than some of the races he’s been tackling in recent seasons.
Unibet 9/2 win
2.20 Cheltenham – SSS Super Alloys Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase Grade 2 (2m)
JPR One has looked a chaser from the word go and this tall, well-built sort made it look easy on his chase debut, popping round Newton Abbot (a tricky track for a novice) beautifully and jumping the open ditch like he’d been doing it his whole life. A harder test here, though he can show why he’s always been held in high regard.
Unibet 6/4 win
2.55 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m 5½f)
Latenightpass (nap) is having his first start for Dan Skelton and has to be of interest getting so much weight, with Delta Work and Gavin the 1-2 here in March heading the weights. The 2022 Aintree Foxhunters winner was made for these fences and should enjoy the test over this longer trip. This looks likely to have been a target and Latenightpass has shown in the past that he goes well fresh.
Unibet 9/1 each way
3.30 Cheltenham – Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 5f)
The Big Doyen looks the one to take on the favourite Captain Teague, as has run with great credit recently. Back in July he won a maiden at Tipperary and then a good novice at Galway when beating What Path, ahead of finding only the unbeaten High Class Hero too good at Limerick month. He will be suited by the ground conditions as well as the course and he looks the each-way steal against the favourite.
Unibet 11/2 each way