20 runners are confirmed for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, the highlight on day three of Cheltenham’s November meeting on Sunday, 17th November. The headline maker in the race could well be Fergal O’Brien’s mare Dysart Enos, who was set to be the leading British contender in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival only to miss the race with a setback. The contest ended up being won by Golden Ace, a horse Dysart Enos had beaten by nine lengths in an Aintree bumper the season before.
This will be her seasonal return off what could be a very generous mark for a mare still unbeaten under rules. Another mare in Under Control is also set to be unleashed by Nicky Henderson here, carrying the colours of JP McManus.
Another intriguing contender is James Owen’s Burdett Road, who improved his form significantly on the flat over the summer and lost just once in his juvenile hurdling campaign last term. A four-year-old last won this in 2015 when Old Guard scored for Paul Nicholls, who has a runner of that age this term soon in Liari, who was third on his return at Chepstow.
Plenty of potential contenders come into this having won on their reappearances in Lump Sum, Williethebuilder and Florida Dreams, while second season novices Be Aware and Fiercely Proud fit a good profile for this race. However, those among the older brigade also look to boast very useful chances in the shape of Imperial Cup hero Go Dante and former Swinton Hurdle winner Black Poppy.
The Irish challenge should be considered too. Emmet Mullins won this race with The Shunter in 2020 and has confirmed Jacovec Cavern, another horse performing well on the flat of late, and bottom-weight Toll Stone. Matthew J Smith is responsible for the third and final Irish runner in Napper Tandy.
Greatwood Hurdle 2024 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Lump Sum | Sam Thomas |
| 2 | Under Control | Nicky Henderson |
| 3 | Anyharminasking | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 4 | Go Dante | Olly Murphy |
| 5 | Spirit d’Aunou | Gary & Josh Moore |
| 6 | Burdett Road | James Owen |
| 7 | Dysart Enos | Fergal O’Brien |
| 8 | Black Poppy | Kerry Lee |
| 9 | Liari | Paul Nicholls |
| 10 | Williethebuilder | Dan Skelton |
| 11 | Be Aware | Dan Skelton |
| 12 | Cracking Rhapsody | Ewan Whillans |
| 13 | Fiercely Proud | Ben Pauling |
| 14 | Teddy Blue | Gary & Josh Moore |
| 15 | Florida Dreams | Nicky Richards |
| 16 | Napper Tandy | Matthew J Smith |
| 17 | Jacovec Cavern | Emmet Mullins |
| 18 | Tintintin | Fergal O’Brien |
| 19 | Royal Way | Josh & Gary Moore |
| 20 | Toll Stone | Emmet Mullins |