DAY Two of the November Meeting at Cheltenham features the Gold Cup Handicap Chase, in which the Cheltenham Festival winner Jagwar is Unibet 100/30 favourite, and he looks the type who can easily step up to graded races this season.
There has only been one winning favourite in the last ten renewals, though Jagwar will handle conditions.
At the time of writing early on Friday morning, the racecourse will have had, by the end of racing, around 30mm of rain, which will really get in the ground for day two on the old course, so there could be some surprises here.
It is a fascinating card with plenty of top prospects having their first run of the season.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
See you there!
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.10 Cheltenham – Debenhams Amateur Jockeys Handicap Chase (3m 1f)
Imperial Alex won well at Perth back in June on his latest appearance and was second at Uttoxeter on his previous start. He has won in testing conditions over this trip and must be in the each way mix at a minimum.
1:45 Cheltenham – Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase Grade 2 (2m)
Stencil has a real presence about him, and he finished second to East India Dock on Festival Trials Day, which saw him go off favourite in the Boodles Fred Winter at the Festival in a race he had clearly been laid out for. However, it was clear from the early stages that he was way too keen and his chance fizzled out from two out when his jockey didn’t persevere.
On the plus side, he clearly has the size for fences, this smaller field will help, and this exciting prospect has won in France in testing conditions.
2:20 Cheltenham – Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m 4f)
Coming Up Easy is on for a four-timer and has seen his rating go from 116 to 142 over those three wins with him looking particularly impressive in a listed handicap at Killarney in August when beating Dreal Deal by five and a half lengths.
His first two starts over fences were in the soft, and he was outclassed at big prices of 50/1 and 66/1, respectively. He won his maiden hurdle in the heavy, and his sire Califet won in testing conditions on several occasions.
Coming Up Easy is a highly progressive seven-year-old having his sixth start over fences and could run a big race.
Hunter Legend might not fit the trends profile for this race as a third-season chaser having his twelfth start over fences, yet last season he went from a rating of 111 to 129 on the back of three wins, all at around this distance.
He won his most recent race back in April at Bangor by seven lengths when a very comfortable winner over two miles four and a half furlongs.
He has, of course, to step up considerably here and the fact that this is first appearance of his campaign is not a concern, nor is the ground. If Hunter Legend can settle, he has strong each way claims.
3:30 Cheltenham – Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)
Royal Infantry (nap) is a good-looking individual, and he reappeared at Chepstow last month in the Silver Trophy over two miles three and a half furlongs when he stayed on well from the last to finish third after looking like he needed the first run of the current campaign.
The form of that quality race is working out well, and the extra distance must be in his favour as well as the ground conditions.
He ran here in the Champion Bumper, finishing eighth, and you can really see him running a big race, staying on up the hill.
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