The Greatwood Hurdle is the Sunday showpiece at Cheltenham’s November meeting. Some of this year’s runners have bigger aspirations, and Joe Napier previews what looks a fascinating showpiece.
Nicky Henderson sent out Iberico Lord to win in comfortable fashion a year ago. The five-year-old ended up in the Champion Hurdle at the end of the season.
DYSART ENOS
(Fergal O’Brien/Jonathan Burke)
No favourite has won this in the last ten years, so there is some history to overcome for Dysart Enos in that respect. However, for an unbeaten mare, rated just 131 despite having some significant collateral form, there is enough reason to think she should actually be shorter in the betting.
All three of her hurdles wins have been achieved with minimal fuss at prohibitive odds. Technically, she is massively underpriced on her hurdles achievements, as she has beaten very little, but the form standout comes from her nine-length Aintree bumper success in April 2023, in which she beat Mares’ Novices’ winner Golden Ace into second. Given how strong that form looks, Fergal O’Brien could well have the best-handicapped mare in history here, but that is still speculation on her hurdles efforts.
BURDETT ROAD
(James Owen/Harry Cobden)
The four-year-old Burdett Road has only run three times over hurdles, but there was a point at which he was the Triumph Hurdle favourite last season. James Owen’s charge won his first two starts over timber extremely impressively last term, including a 6½-length Grade 2 triumph over course and distance, with his only defeat coming against the highly regarded Sir Gino in Janaury.
Since that defeat, he has scored at Listed level on the flat, and was fewer than eight lengths behind Kyprios at the season’s end at Ascot. Burdett Road’s rating is just 133 ahead of this handicap debut over hurdles and, like Dysart Enos, he could have infinite amounts in hand should his improvement on the flat translate to the jumping game.
UNDER CONTROL
(Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville
Another mare who may not have reached the ceiling of her ability, Under Control represents last year’s winning connections of Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville and JP McManus. Their five-year-old was talented enough to beat Iberico Lord off level weights at Sandown in April 2023 despite being a year younger.
She has not kicked on in the manner of her stablemate since, but her best run in three last season, when second in a Grade 2 mares’ event at Doncaster, suggests she will still have higher aspirations at some point. She was possibly slightly disappointing when only sixth in the Galway Hurdle last time, but with her stable having minded her, there could yet be lots more to come.
GO DANTE
(Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen)
Unlike any of the above, who are largely unexposed in an atmosphere such as this, Go Dante has been there and done it, winning over course and distance at the December meeting last term, while also finishing third in the Betfair Hurdle and winning the Imperial Cup last term. He is a regular in such races, and that experience is something the other favourites cannot count on.
He would be unusual as an eight-year-old Greatwood Hurdle winner, but he maintained his form throughout last season. That said, he was only sixth last year off 8lb lower though has at least had a comeback run this time.
THE FIELD
Both of Emmet Mullins’ runners need a significant watch in the market, as though both Jacovec Cavern and Toll Stone do not yet have the form over hurdles to contend, they have both been running very well on the flat. The former looks the number one on jockey bookings and may have the greater chance as a five-year-old who was highly tried as a juvenile hurdler for Paul Hennessy. Nevertheless, both should be monitored closely.
Be Aware hit the crossbar on a few occasions last term, but is one of many other unexposed second season hurdlers, with Fiercely Proud, Florida Dreams and Cracking Rhapsody also among them. Royal Way is a year younger, but racked up a hat-trick last season and may have needed his comeback run; getting 9lb from Burdett Road makes him an interesting angle as a four-year-old, while Black Poppy has run well on both starts at Cheltenham, one each on the new and old courses.
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The feature race on Sunday for The November Meeting in Cheltenham is the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle and it’s had some big names winners over the years. I’ve looked at all running’s this century to try and figure out what it takes to land this race. KEY TRENDS Focused Trends AGE The bulk of winners are…
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VERDICT
Dysart Enos is preferred to Burdett Road of those who could have massive amounts in hand from the handicapper. However, there is a suspicion that the Emmet Mullins pair of JACOVEC CAVERN and Toll Stone could be as progressive off these marks given their recent good efforts on the flat. They may well have been targeted at this, with the former having gone up against a host of top juveniles when last seen over timber. Though this looks a very competitive year, both Black Poppy and Royal Way make some appeal at big prices.
- Jacovec Cavern
- Toll Stone
- Dysart Enos
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