THE second day of The November Meeting sees the November Meeting feature with the Gold Cup Handicap Chase and Stolen Silver must have a strong chance for trainer Sam Thomas, who had a very scary experience last week with a helicopter crash. In this contest I was interested in Editeur Du Gite, who was third at the October meeting, after being tried with waiting tactics to come from off the pace, however he is stepping up in trip and looks to have too much weight here.
A special mention for Coole Cody, who is a credit to connections and won this race in 2020. He had a warmup over hurdles at The Showcase Meeting and won’t be far away once again.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.10 Cheltenham – Jewson Tool Hire Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (3m 1f)
Anightinlambourn form figures since returning to chasing are 112 and this very likeable mare, who has a great attitude, can returning to winning form. At the October meeting Gina Andrews took up the running at the top of the hill on Anightinlambourn, who had travelled smoothly and jumped well and then was collared in the final strides by Jimmy The Digger (reopposes here) after wandering off a true line. Essentially, she has a progressive profile and Jack Andrews, who is in the plate this time and can just hold onto Anightinlambourn a little longer to secure a victory here on ground that will suit this improving type.
1.45 Cheltenham – Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase Grade 2 (2m)
Banbridge is the selection here in a cracking renewal, with in opposition the exciting Monmiral, who makes his debut over fences and Tommy’s Oscar, who progressed sharply over hurdles last year and won on chasing debut this season. Banbridge has the Cheltenham winning form, having won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in March at The Festival over two miles four furlongs and showed on chasing debut at Gowran Park that is an exciting prospect over fences.
He made all on that occasion travelling smoothly and jumping fluently to suggest that the drop back to two miles will not be a problem, as with his cruising speed he can have these in trouble early on
2.20 Cheltenham – Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m 4f)
Stolen Silver (nap) has the class to take this renewal carrying a weight of 11st 8lbs, having gone up the ratings from 136 to 150 last season. This seven-year-old was second at this meeting last year to Editeur Du Gite over two miles and they reoppose here over what is Stolen Silver’s trip, as he showed last season when taking the Grade 2 Silver Trophy at the April meeting on good ground when easily beating Simply The Betts, with Coole Cody back in fourth. Stolen Silver was fourth to Coole Cody in the Cheltenham Plate at The Festival in the soft. Stolen Silver will go well fresh and can take this big feature on his tenth start over fences.
Nassalam has to go left-handed, so it was remarkable to see him go off favourite at Ascot last month, and he duly gave away too much ground by jumping left all the time to finish fifth to Thyme White. He looks nicely handicapped on his defeats of Solo and Tea Clipper last season and the Ascot race will have blown all the cobwebs away. Nassalam has good each way claims and this five-year-old looks overlooked.
2.55 Cheltenham – Games Handicap Hurdle (3m)
Valentino is one of the outsiders here and whilst Shearer is the obvious favourite others need to bounce back to form. Although Valentino is 8lbs out of the handicap, Harry Kimber claims five off his back and this progressive hurdler will enjoy the ground, stays really well and seemed to improve for headgear last time, making Umbrigado pull out all the stops. Definitely has plenty going for him and worth an each way play
3.30 Cheltenham – Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)
WiseGuy for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, is having his first start since last December and looks on an attractive mark of 119. This six-year-old beat the very smart Hillcrest on his bumper and racecourse debut back in January 2021. He was then off the course for 307 days, ahead of finishing third in a novice hurdle at Fontwell and then winning on his next and most recent start at Doncaster, beating Amenon last December by seven and half lengths. Wise Guy wasn’t the smoothest of jumpers and still looked very green, yet there is clearly plenty of untapped potential here and providing he can handle the bigger field he could come out on top here.
