Cheltenham November Meeting Day 1 Betting Tips – Friday 11th November

The Cheltenham November meeting takes place this weekend and we will have a race-by-race preview across the weekend, starting with Friday 11th November’s six-race card.

The action gets underway at 1.10pm and you can read the thoughts of @Rideout_Racing below with a betting tip for each race.

 

Cheltenham 1.10pm

More Irish success on the cards in the opener

The opening race of Cheltenham’s November meeting is a typically competitive Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Enki Flacke bids to complete a four timer but I favour the chances of another Irish raider. Gavin Cromwell is a shrewd operator and sends over Sweet Will 13/2 just three days after recording an eye catching Fairyhouse success. Raised 9lbs to a mark of 104, the English handicapper has him a further 10lbs higher at 114. On paper he wouldn’t seem particularly well handicapped, but I thought he had a good bit in hand when winning on Tuesday and it is surely a telling sign that he is reappearing so soon after, especially on English shores, off a much higher handicap mark. With form over further, I would expect to see him staying on strongly up the hill.

 

Cheltenham 1.45pm

Take on The Glancing Queen with Grand Annual form

The Glancing Queen heads the weights for the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase over two miles. With course and distance form in the book she is likely to prove popular, but now on a career high mark and shouldering top weight with no mares’ allowance, I am going to take her on. Amarillo Sky represents the in-form Joe Tizzard stable and currently sits around the 4/1 mark. He finished fifth in what I thought was a strong Grand Annual and should appreciate the return to better ground. Amarillo Sky did take a couple of runs to find his form last season and I would just question whether he is a horse who may improve for racing. Hasankey 12/1 finished just over three lengths behind Amarillo Sky in the Grand Annual and the pair meet again on similar terms. Hasankey has a fitness edge on a few of these rivals having reappeared with a pleasing second to unbeaten chaser Mackenberg. Still only six, he has a progressive profile and with Lewis Dobb’s 7lb claim will be receiving plenty of weight from those at the top of the market. With plenty of these keen to race prominently, I am hoping the race will be run to suit and Hasankey can pick his rivals off up the famous Cheltenham Hill.

 

Cheltenham 2.20pm

Red hot form line is about to get hotter

Irish raiders had great success at The Showcase meeting in October and Martin Pipe winner Banbridge was a surprise absentee from declarations for the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. In his absence, Hereditary Rule heads the betting for trainer John McConnell who was in fine form at the October meeting. Having had the six starts over fences he is fairly exposed, and I wouldn’t be convinced there is lots more to come off a mark of 137. He shoulders top weight alongside Pull Again Green who was novicey at the October Meeting but did shape as though he may improve for the run. Unanswered Prayers 4/1 kicked off his season at Chepstow over hurdles in a race which is working out exceptionally well. He finished fifth, beaten just over four lengths, but the race continues to churn out winners. Knappers Hill (1^st) has gone on to trounce Sceau Royal in the Elite Hurdle, whilst Lord Baddesley (2^nd), Masters Legacy (6^th) and Proshema (7^th) have all come out and won since. Raised just 2lb for that run Unanswered Prayers comes here of a mark of 126 and subsequently receives plenty of weight from the front two in the market. He looks as though he will improve for a fence, and it is a surely a sign of confidence that his connections are choosing to start of his chasing career in a competitive handicap around Cheltenham.

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Cheltenham 2.55pm

I hope to see some Magic from the Dancer

With the weather forcing the usual cross-country race to be moved later in the calendar, next on the card we have a Veterans Handicap Chase over two and a half miles. Ballyandy heads the betting for team Twiston-Davies and looks sure to run a big race. Kauto Riko has an excellent record when fresh and first time out is certainly the time to catch him. I do worry about the trip for both Kauto Riko and Ballyandy, with both eleven-year-olds maybe wanting three miles these days. Magic Dancer 11/2 loves it around Prestbury Park, with two wins and two placed efforts to his name. The trip looks ideal for him, and he is another who has gone well first time out in the past. A year younger than his market rivals, he may have a little more left in the tank and should appreciate the underfoot conditions.

 

Cheltenham 3.30pm

Back against Willie at your peril

The Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is the penultimate race of the day, and we have a classy field of seven set to go to post. Hermes Allen was visually very impressive when bolting up at Stratford, but he did have the tendency to slightly jink to the right and the form wouldn’t amount to much. Sporting Mike was 67 lengths back in fourth that day and has since been smashed 24 lengths by a 105 rated hurdler. Weveallbeencaught has form closely tied in with Collectors Item and the latter looks overpriced considering he has a winning hurdles debut under his belt. Music Drive represents Gordon Elliott but appeared to be crying out for three miles when staying on strongly up the hill at the October Meeting. Willie Mullins saddled Dads Lad to a triumphant raid at that October meeting and sends Hubrisko 5/2 over for his sole runner on the card. Paul Townend comes over for the ride which surely signifies intent given he didn’t come over for the ride on Dads Lad and will be straight back to Ireland to ride the likes of Ferny Hollow on Saturday. Hubrisko has solid form in the book finishing third behind the extremely talented Champ Kiely. He was unable to quicken with the winner that day and Willie clearly thinks this step up in trip is a good move. There was plenty of hype surrounding this fella a couple of seasons ago and with a clear experience edge over his main market rivals he cannot be ignored for the Maestro.

 

Cheltenham 4.00pm

Two to go to war with in the lucky last

The final race of the day is a tricky Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles. Rathmacknee heads the betting for Henderson and De Boinville but I favour the chances of Hey Johnny 6/1 for Thomas Mullins. A comfortable winner of a Clonmel handicap two weeks ago, Hey Johnny appears to be horse with millage in his mark. Raised 10lbs by the Irish Handicapper for that success, he finds himself a further 7lbs higher in England, but Claimer Charlie Mullins takes that weight off. His run two starts back behind One Last Tango looks a solid piece of form with the winner putting his head in front again next time out. That run came on good ground so the quicker conditions shouldn’t be a problem. Effectively running off his Irish mark, I find him hard to ignore.

This race has been won by a couple of long shots in recent times and one that caught my eye at a price was Galahad Threepwood 25/1 for trainer Ben Pauling. A classy flat performer, with a peak rating of 88, he hasn’t quite translated that form over hurdles but did catch my eye last time out over course and distance. Sent off 40/1 and ridden cold out the back, he was never really put in the race but made up plenty of ground up the hill, running on into fifth just under a length behind the third. That looked a decent enough maiden hurdle to me and with his classy flat profile, he’s one that would interest me in the each-way markets.

 

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