Matty Sutcliffe landed multiple winners at Cheltenham’s October meeting. He looks to start November’s three-day festival with a bang with three best bets.
1:10 Cheltenham – Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hdl Series Qual’) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-125) – Phantomofthepoints 16/1 1pt EW 5 places
David Pipe tends to target this race, with his record in it reading 130204107F14 (7 w/p from 12 in the last ten years) and with his string in excellent form, PHANTOMOFTHEPOINTS makes large appeal from an each way perspective.
Interestingly, they have him entered in the valuable C1 Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock next weekend, which would suggest they’re confident he’s better than a mark of 124. He changed hands to the familiar colours of Kenny Alexander last November, having shown promise in a Ballinrobe bumper beaten two lengths at 125/1 behind now 130r/123r types, suggesting as if a step in trip would suit in time.
He was a beaten 11/10F on bumper debut for David Pipe, though the winner could potentially be a smart one for Evan Williams having been beaten by Sixmilebridge next time out, who later contested the Champion Bumper. There was a Paul Nicholls gelding three lengths behind Pipe’s that day, who’s now rated 132 over hurdles.
The son of Mount Nelson was then beaten a neck on hurdles debut by 8/11F Florida Dreams, staying on well having made the running with that one contesting the G1 Tolworth next time out, taking a handicap off 125 last time out, and the now 121 rated Joshua Des Flos was thirteen lengths behind that pair.
He was well supported when into 9/2 for a competitive C2 Ascot Novice when upped in trip, but the constant jumping to his left saw him weaken out of contention late on, though a 68 day break might’ve been the cause there and he bounced back to form with a three length second to Dollar Queen given that one 7lbs, who’s now rated 119. He gained a deserved win when bolting up twelve lengths at Chepstow, though he was found out back in better company. Having said that, he looked again as if a step up in trip would suit there particularly given the 1st-5th were all suited by being held up in midfield/rear, and that 0-130 race has worked out well enough in the context of this 0-125 one.
I’m happy to play him first time out here given the yard form and record in this race, and I couldn’t have Pipe’s other runner off top weight and 4lbs wrong. The step up in trip on quicker ground can suit him, as he’s by a well connected Galileo mare from the family of Red Sherlock, who won the G2 Classic Novices’ Hurdle for the yard over 2m4f. The entry in the three miler at Haydock further bodes confidence he’ll handle this distance, and off a mark of 124 (121 with claim) he looks well handicapped enough on some of the aforementioned form.
2:55 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Tommie Beau 7/1 2pt WIN
The first port of call here is taking on Conflated. He has to give 16lbs to the field (claim factored in), and Elliott has had the likes of Delta Work and Galvin well beaten in this race of late. It’s a trap enough affair outside of that however, but we’ve seen how match fitness has counted for plenty of late and the consistent, admirable TOMMIE BEAU can put his to good use.
The typical winter horses are needing the run and the good ground is playing havoc, but these conditions are perfect for Tommie Beau and this assured, battle hardened stayer could thrive over these fences.
I’m often wary about backing these summer horses in these types of contests, but Tommie Beau has at least shown form in the winter months, having put up a career best RPR at the time last November when taking the Southern Natinonal off top weight. He was progressive again on RPR’s the next twice, finishing second carrying 12-1 in the Sussex National giving 18lbs to the winner, and he was an excellent six lengths third in the Eider Chase giving 22lbs and 10lbs to the two six lengths ahead of him.
He put a rare poor effort behind him after pulling up after a break in the Scottish National when bolting up fourteen lengths in a 0-140 at Cartmel ahead of a subsequent winner of a C2, and 22L ahead of another subsequent winner, and he showed his versatility when taking an 18k handicap over hurdles at Cartmel just two days later.
You’d have thought he was over the top by August, but he was second off an 89 day break to one completing a four timer who’s now rated 8lbs higher, giving that one some 26lbs, and he gamely fended off the 9/2 Jerrash when back over fences again off top-weight, giving away 18lbs (8L third won by 35L today).
I’m not all that concerned he was beaten nine lengths off another break last month, as he record when fresh reads 501437PU23 (1-9), while his record second time up reads 75251411 (3-8) and he’s 1411 second time up when returning from a break below 100 days. He was dropped a pound for that last effort, and given Conflated is allowing all of these to carry featherweights, he looks to have found a golden opportunity in here carrying just 10-5, given he’s carried 12-0 in his last four efforts.
4:00 Cheltenham – Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-125) – Belgoprince 9/1 1pt WIN
The unexposed sorts of Fasol and Wreckless Eric bring plenty of potential in here, but I can’t not play BELGOPRINCE who was well backed in this last season. When I was doing the pointers for the column, in wrote this:
“The well supported Belgoprince was in the process of giving his backers a solid run for their money when travelling best of all before the last hurdle, before clattering into it and losing all momentum. Whether he would’ve had the finishing kick to match the three who pulled clear on the far side remains open to question, but he’s clearly a well handicapped horse judging by that first run over hurdles since 2021 and shouldn’t be underestimated next time out, particularly if they travel over with him again”
There’s an air of unfinished business about him, and he’s been consistent enough this summer in defeat, including a solid run over hurdles at Wexford beaten a length under Daniel King, giving weight away to those in front of him who were suited by their prominent pitch throughout, and the winner has backed that form up having won next time out (now rated 15lbs higher).
I’ve no doubt others bring more potential down the line, but Belgoprince looks to have been laid out for this and if his jumping stands up this time, he can go well from the same mark.
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