Cheltenham Tips: November Meeting Tips from Architect

In the opener, the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, I am intrigued by the participation of SON OF THE SOMME (best price 25/1), who gets the first nod to make a serious impact off a handy mark, with most bookmakers paying five places.

Brian Ellison’s eight-year-old opened his account over fences back in January, and while he disappointed in his next two starts in that sphere, there were plenty of positives to glean from his latest eye-catching return to hurdles when third at Ayr last month.

His consistent record of 221223 in handicap hurdle races certainly adds to his attractive profile, while a mark of 117 is far from prohibitive. Lewis Dobb can claim an additional 3Ib, and the drop-back in trip will suit, given that three miles has just about stretched his stamina.

With the five places generally available, I want to double up in the opener, and OFF TO A FLYER (best price 9/1) looks a very suitable second option from an each-way stance and must be eminently well-handicapped off a mark of 120 based on the way he accounted for the 138-rated Aramax at Ayr over three miles back in April.

Sent off as a 13/8 favourite on debut, he could only finish sixth but looked in need of the experience and acquitted himself well behind a few above-average ones the next two times, such as Stay Away Fay, Rare Edition and Rubaud, who are all now rated 147, 138 and 150, so the form has substance.

His narrow second to The Carpenter, off level weights at Exeter, reads well, given the winner made  successful handicap at Uttoxeter off a mark of 129; therefore, Joe Tizzard’s runner is well-treated off 120. Freddie Gingell can claim 3Ib, and the fact his mount made his handicap debut in the EBF Final last season suggests he is highly thought of.

His handler has made a good start to the season, and he should have more to offer on his seasonal debut. He is an appealing price with several bookmakers, his form is working out well, and he has proved he stays further, so a 7Ib rise for that impressive victory last time should prove to be no impediment to his chances.

The Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase can invariably throw up a well- handicapped horse, and the one runner that might have slipped under the radar here is Henry Oliver’s COASTGUARD STATION (best price 16/1), who has taken well to fences and should be spot on for this after last month’s promising return third over hurdles at Wetherby.

A dual winner over hurdles, the seven-year-old made a winning chase debut at Doncaster in this month last year and made the frame in his next three starts, before a creditable fifth in the Clarke Chase at Uttoxeter when stepped up to 2m4f, where he held every chance before the final fence, until his stamina petered out in the closing stages.

The return to two miles, his optimum distance, will be beneficial, and there will be no concerns about his fitness. I think the market has majorly underestimated his chances here because his form is relatively strong, particularly his third at Ayr back In April, when he was a place behind subsequent Haldon Gold Cup winner Elixir De Nutz. He makes plenty of each-way appeal with four places available.

This is not a vintage renewal of the Arkle Trial Novices’ Chase by any means. JPR One impressed on his chase debut when beating a couple of smart horses and has the knowledge of Cheltenham having contested the Supreme last year, but on a strict reading through a horse called A Different Kind, he might have to settle for minor honours behind PETIT TONNERRE (best price 3/1).

After making a winning stable/handicap debut at Market Rasen, he has shaped promisingly in various good-quality handicaps, including in his final two starts last year, where he made the frame when carrying big weights in each, before an eye- catching display in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when 7th of 24 and hasn't been seen since.

Considering it was his first trip to prestbury park, he made noticeably late progress through the pack when the field turned into the home straight, and he hit the line practically stronger than most. That was his first start over two miles since being pulled up in a Grade 1 at Aintree last year on his second start for the stable. He is built to excel in this sphere, and the top-rated runner in the field is fancied to oblige.

I have been fortunate to tip many, many winners in the Cross Country events at Cheltenham, and I really like the credentials of two participants in this particular contest. Philip Hobbs rarely sends horses over the banks nowadays, but when he does, they are worth close observation, and it is possible this has been the culmination of a long-term plan with Cross Country debutant, MUSICAL SLAVE (best price 16/1).

Owner JP McManus has enjoyed lots of success in these races over the years, with horses such as Spot Thedifference, Easyland, Josie’s Orders, and Garde Champetre, and this 10-year-old could book his ticket to the main event in March if he takes to the course.

Philip Hobbs trained Balthazar King to various victories in this discipline, and this 10-year-old won’t lack stamina, given he stayed 3m6f well when 7th of 17 in last year’s Welsh National and only found Hewick too good in last year’s Bet365 Gold Cup.

He is only 2Ib higher in this race, and he warmed up for this with an encouraging second at Wincanton last month. He hasn't always been the most fluent of jumpers, but he is sure to have had plenty of schooling in the lead up to this task and handles all ground.

Interestingly, his only two previous starts at Cheltenham have come at the Festival, where he contested the Kim Muir for the last two seasons without reward. With a clear round, I am hopeful he has the tools to get involved off a low-weight.

Most firms are offering four places, so at a double-figure price, alongside a clutch of positives, such as a reading of some of his best form plus his trainer and owner's great history in these events, he must be backed.

Gordon Elliott has a stranglehold on the market with the first two in betting. However, Delta Work beat GALVIN (best price 3/1) when the pair fought out the finish in March and has a run under his belt, but the latter was having his first go in this sphere and is fancied to enhance his good first-time-out record and gain revenge.

This tough and consistent nine-year-old has a great record at Cheltenham, mostly at
the Festival, and despite unseating his rider in the Grand National, he is normally a sound jumper, and he is massively favoured by the weights, with amateur RobJames taking off an additional 7Ib. He can potentially level the score with his stablemate.

In the Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, Nicky Henderson’s IMPOSE TOI (best price 11/4) appears to be absolutely thrown in here off a mark of 121 and can make it three wins from five starts over hurdles. His record in this sphere reads two wins and two seconds, and both wins have seen him win by a wide margin.

His second to Brentford Hope could hardly have worked out any better, as the winner has since won off 122 in very easy fashion. Despite his short-ish odds for a race like this, I think he is well ahead of the handicapper.

Andrew Martin likes to target one at a handicap, and his only runner on the card, BELGOPRINCE (best price 14/1), is the standout each-way bet in the last race on the card to conclude the opening day of Cheltenham’s November Meeting.

This Irish raider has been in great form on the flat this year, winning twice, and the last time he ran over hurdles, he was beaten a nose by the 135+-rated The Greek in a large-field handicap at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting. Ironically, that has been his only start over hurdles since finishing a never-nearer 9th of 18 in this race two years ago.

With this jockey’s 5Ib claim taken into account, he is2Ib lower this time around, and he rates a very interesting candidate. Five places are generally available.

Milan Tino is an interesting runner who ran well when third behind the top-class Jigtime in a Grade 2 last time and could be hard to beat. However, BURDETT ROAD (best price 11/4) was seriously impressive in winning by 12 lengths on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon despite a couple of mistakes and is already lower than the former in odds for the Triumph Hurdle in March.

Burdett Road makes Andy Holding's Ante-Post List for Cheltenham 2024.

He will have learned a lot, is open to further improvement in the jumping department, and is rated 101 on the flat. He has a similar profile to last year’s winner, Scriptwriter, and although soft ground would ask more of him, he is handed the vote to confirm that initial promise by remaining unbeaten.

An open-looking Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, but Olly Murphy’s GRANDADS COTTAGE (best price 12/1) could be ready to plant himself into the picture on his seasonal reappearance with James King booked to ride, who is a vital addition to the saddle.

This eight-year-old took a while to come good over hurdles, but won his final start in that sphere back in early 2021 and looked better than ever when returning from a long absence to score on his chase debut in December last year. Despite a lack of match practice and pulling hard, he jumped, travelled well, and knuckled down to beat the 138-rated Bass Rock on the soft ground.

He then finished second at Fontwell in a muddling race when beaten only a length before making two from three in this sphere at Market Rasen in March and has been kept fresh since. Olly has made a good start to the campaign, and he told me personally a couple of years ago how much he thinks of this horse.

He looks well-handicapped off 131, will relish the soft ground, and has an experienced rider in the saddle. With bookies paying five places, he is a confident each-way choice. He is progressive, has more to offer, and ticks plenty of boxes for a race of this nature.

The other runner in the Amateur Jockeys’ race I am interested in is WAYFINDER (best price 18/1) who ran very well on his return when third over course and distance last month. The race was run at a frantic gallop, and he did a good job of maintaining his prominent position throughout by making the frame.

The time was fast for the grade, and the assessor has only raised his mark a pound, which is lenient. Gina Andrews will take the ride this time, which can only be seen as a positive, so with that highly-promising return under his belt, he is a reasonable each-way player again for the Rebecca Curtis team. Five places, generally.