OVER the three-day November Meeting at Cheltenham there will be host of jumping stars making their seasonal debuts at the home of jump racing thanks to the favourable softer ground conditions.
As of early Thursday morning the forecast for Friday is in the region of 35mm of rain to fall at Prestbury, with 4-5mm on Saturday and a dry day on Sunday.
This significant rainfall will certainly change conditions not only for tomorrow from the current good to soft and for Saturday, when the ground could be tacky.
On Friday Jonbon, who remarkably has never finished outside the first two in his 23 career starts, is looking to win the Shloer Chase for the third successive year, for which he is currently Unibet 5/6 on.
This is in contrast to last year, where he was 1/3 on, beating Boothill by a length and a half, whilst the runner-up reopposes, the main threat looks to be coming from Libberty Hunter, who was going well until falling three out in the Champion Chase, in which Jonbon was second.
Despite the stronger challenge, Jonbon is unbeaten in November and December, and I expect him to retain that record, giving his trainer Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, another winner at Cheltenham.
In contrast, stablemate Mister Coffey (see below) is still a maiden over fences after 16 races and has finished runner-up on eight occasions, yet this talented individual could break his maiden tag in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier).
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1:10 Cheltenham – Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)
King Of The Road looked in need of the run at Ludlow last month, and after leading for much of the way, found himself left behind from two out, perhaps unsurprisingly given the trip was too short at two miles and the ground was probably plenty fast enough for him too.
King Of The Road’s best effort of last year came over two miles five furlongs at Kempton when running East India Express to two and a half lengths at Kempton and with that Ludlow effort under his belt, this step back up in trip is bound to suit as will the softer ground. He looks like an individual who can resume a progressive profile for a yard in great form.
1:45 Cheltenham – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier) 2m 4f
Mister Coffey, who has been regular in my Unibet blog, could secure his first win over fences and his first success since last winning over hurdles in November 2020. Last season he showed plenty of enthusiasm for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Course finishing 225 on his three starts and whilst there is no Cross Country this time because of the quick ground, he drops back in trip to two miles four furlongs on the Old Course.
Whilst he hasn’t been seen over this distance over fences since his novice chasing days when just touched off on Boxing Day at Kempton by Jacamar in 2021, and then he was well beaten by L’Homme Presse in February 2022.
Mister Coffey has a good record over fences at Cheltenham and riding him prominently would be the best tactic here, given the trip and the forecast deluge will work in his favour too.
His main danger Fugitif, ticks lots of boxes, yet Mister Coffey has a good chance of fending him off if he retains his undoubted ability and enthusiasm.
2.20 Cheltenham – Novices Chase’ Listed Race (3m 1f)
Leave Of Absence (nap) is one of my Unibet Ten To Follow and this lightly raced eight-year-old really caught the eye at Cheltenham’s October meeting on the Saturday in the Novices’ Chase
In the race, twelve fences were jumped instead of the twenty fences because of the low sun, and Leave Of Absence, who likes to be prominent, took up the running from two out (usual four out) to hold off the challenge of Pied Piper with the long run in on the flat.
The RaceiQ data showed what an effective jumper he is and Leave Of Absence impressed on his penultimate start over fences at Newbury in March when also victorious.
He has a penalty, so he has to give three pounds to the rest of the field, yet this exciting type has all the ability to step up once again and providing the rain doesn’t get in the ground, which it hasn’t done on occasions at Cheltenham on the day of the heavy rainfall then he can come out on top.
3:30 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 5f)
Moneygarrow has a solid chance here after a good effort in the Persian War on seasonal debut at Chepstow, staying on for third behind Sticktotheplan, and was a step up on what he was achieving last year in bumpers, so he’s going the right way.
His form figures under rules are 122-3 and he was a good point-to-point winner at Borris House too.
Moneygarrow will appreciate another couple of furlongs, which is all in his favour and can come out on top in a hot race.
Imperfectlyperfect is the outsider and really shouldn’t be in that position given he won his bumper in March at Hexham and then won his maiden at the same course last month over two miles.
He will appreciate the step up in trip and has an each way chance with more improvement to come.
4.00 Cheltenham – Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m ½f)
Lucky Bere is still a maiden, having been placed in all his five starts with form figures of 2233-3 and showed on his first start in October after an eight-month break that a good season lies ahead, as he was doing all his best work at the finish when third at Worcester in a field of fourteen.
He is ground versatile, having won on the heavy in France on the flat, and has performed well on good to soft and good over hurdles.
Lucky Bere has strong each-way claims at a minimum and could secure his first win over hurdles.
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