Cheltenham’s November meeting is the feature National Hunt meeting of the weekend, with many top class races on our screens for all of us to enjoy over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday period. There are plenty of classy horses to look forward to this weekend, with many of them running in the feature contests for the whole meeting, which includes the Arkle Trial, the Triumph Hurdle Trail and the Grade 2 Shloer Chase to just name a few.
GG writer Jake Russell guides us through his horses to look out for at this weekends Cheltenham November meeting.
Horses To Watch
JPR ONE (Joe Tizzard)
2.20pm Friday – SSS Super Alloys Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
A horse that really caught the eye on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot just 27 days ago, he beat a well fancied odds on favourite of Paul Nicholls, who also had the chase experience under his belt heading into that race. Joe Tizzard’s horse was a fair Novice Hurdler, winning twice in his Novice hurdle season, he was pitched into Grade 1 Supreme Company for his last run that season, where he finished 5th of 9 runners.
He was lightly raced last season, just having the two runs after pretty much missing all the season (First run was in March), which included a win at Taunton on his first start, which was in handicap company. He then lined up at Aintree in a very competetive contest, where he finished a very nice 5th of 20 runners.
Connections have wasted no time in getting him over fences, as their horse has only had the 8 career runs so far, 4 of which have ended un in a victory. And it was that performance last time out that caught the eye, when beating Moviel by 2 lengths. That was his first test over larger obstacles, and he did look like a real natural, jumping well before making nice headway throughout the race to then win quite comfortably indeed.
This is a real step up in class, but he made a good impression last time, and I think he could ultimately prove to be a decent chaser in the making, for a yard who have some nice types this season. The yard have already sent out a graded winner this season, with Elixir De Nutz winning the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last weekend.
CAPTAIN TEAGUE (Paul Nicholls)
3.30pm Friday – Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
A horse heading into his Novice Hurdling season with a fair reputation on it already, that might be due to the fact he ran a cracker to come 3rd in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March. A winner of a point-to-point over 2m4f back in February 2022, he had just the two runs in bumpers last season. Winning on debut at Plumpton, with King William 3 lengths in behind, before he completely outran his odds of 40/1 in the Champion Bumper, only beaten by 2 and a half lengths, staying on nicely heading up the hill.
He was then pitched straight into the deep end for his hurdling bow, sent off the odds on favourite for the Grade 2 Persian War Novices Hurdle at Chepstow last month, he had a fair few eyes on him as he headed for the first Graded contest in the UK for the new national hunt season. That was a classy display, as he pulled well clear in the clsoing stages to win going away by just under 10 legnths. He didnt nparticually jump fluently all the way around, but he jumped well enough to gallop his rivals in submission.
I believe it has been said the Ballymore is the main target, as he will appreciate anything and everything over 2m4f ish, although being a bumper winner and Champion Bumper placed horse, I am sure he isn’t short of a bit of pace required for the top 2-mile Novice events. However staying could be his bag, therefore the Challow and then the Ballymore will most likely be the overriding targets for this horse heading forward.
Captain Teague is currently around the 12/1 to 14/1 mark with various bookies for the Ballymore, and I’m sure if he wins this and then the Challow, he will no doubt cut in price dramatically as the Ballymore starts to take shape over the coming months.
BURDETT ROAD (James Owen)
12.35pm Saturday – JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
James Owen is a trainer to firmly keep an eye on as the seasons progress, and his Royal Ascot winning recruit made it the perfect start over hurdles on debut at Huntingdon last time.
Once trained by Michael Bell on the flat, this horse had 11 runs on the level for his previous trainer, winning on three occasions and placing another 4 times. By far his best effort when running on the flat was a win in the Golden Gates Stakes at the Royal meeting in June, winning at the odds of 20/1, with Lion Of War in second by three quarters of a length. He ended his time with Michael Bell rated 101 on the flat, therefore that means providing he can jump his obstacles, that he would be a very nice type now in the National Hunt sphere.
He made his debut for James Owen at Huntingdon just 13 days ago, and really made the prefect impression. Sent off the odds on favourite, he duly obliged that market support by winning with ease. Jumping well, he did take a keen hold throughout, but that didn’t deter him as he pulled clear to win, eased down by 12 lengths. Jockey Harry Cobden (Who is booked to ride on Saturday) stated he is certainly a Triumph Hurdle contender, and a very smart jumper at that.
He lines up in the Triumph Hurdle trial on Saturday, which is a Grade 2 affair, so needs to confirm the promise with this step up in class, but he does look to be a classy hurdler. Currently priced at 20’s for the Triumph Hurdle come March, that might shorten a little should he win on Saturday.
THE KEMBLE BREWERY (Kim Bailey)
1.10pm Sunday – mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle (Class 2)
A horse that Kim Bailey has wasted no time getting him over Hurdles, the yards horses have kick started the season pretty well so far. Kim has had some nice winners already this season, including nice chasers Trelawne and Chianti Classico, who both won on their chasing debuts already this season and look to be very nice types for the season ahead.
The Kemble Brewery has had just the two career runs so far, both of them in bumper contests. Starting off with a 4 and a half length winner on debut at Huntingdon, he then went on to back that effort up by landing another bumper, this time at Cheltenham. Now with these younger horses, I think having a run and winning at Cheltenham is an excellent piece of form so early on in their careers, as Cheltenham is a tricky track to run at and takes some nice types to win there.
The form from last time might throw up a question mark or two, however you can only win what is put in front of you, and Kim Bailey’s son of Blue Bresil won it nicely. He won it by just under 3 lengths that day, really blitzing up the hill and taking to it like a duck to water. Course and distance form to boot, I think The Kimble Brewery could be a nice type and make it the perfect start over hurdles, for a yard who are doing so well with their first time outers this season.
CITY CHIEF (Nicky Henderson)
2.20pm Sunday – Jewson Handicap Chase (Class 1 Premier Handicap)
Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of this horse, and although he had quite the productive season last term, Nicky was disappointed that his horse lost at Ayr and connections really thought he would win the race.
He is a thorough stayer, and could potentially be a Grand National horse in the future, but with the new regulations in the race, he might need to raise up the weights slightly to confirm his spot in the feature contest next April, as confirmed by his trainer. I believe that is the plan by Nicky Henderson and connections, meaning Cheltenham on Sunday could be a great place to start.
A two-time winner last season, including the Grade 2 William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby, before going on to come 3rd in that decent chase contest at Ayr. He makes his seasonal debut on Sunday, and his record fresh is a little mixed, however Nicky Henderson is great at getting his horses to run well on seasonal debut.
This trip will not be an issue, and he has won or ran well on good, to good to soft and soft conditions, so very versatile on that front. He stays well and this will be the prefect test for him, to see where he is at for the season ahead. Believe it or not, Nicky H has never won the Grand National, and he has stated this horse could be the one to win it for him, hopefully all being well and he gets in the race with a nice weight.
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Tue 31 Oct 20235 To Watch Summary
- JPR One (2.20 Friday or 1.45 Sunday)
- Captain Teague (3.30 Friday)
- Burdett Road (12.35 Saturday)
- The Kimble Brewery (1.10 Sunday)
- City Chief (2.20 Sunday)
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