ITV will be covering racing from the middle day of Cheltenham’s November Meeting alongside action from Wetherby with a total of six televised races on Saturday.
- 1:45 Cheltenham: Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase – Burdett Road @ 11/2
- 2:20 Cheltenham: Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase – Hunter Legend @ 11/1
- 2:55 Cheltenham: From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle – Long Draw @ 7/2
- 3:10 Wetherby: Boyle Sports Best Odds Guaranteed ‘Introductory’ Hurdle – Cueros @ 3/1
- 3:30 Cheltenham: Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle – French Ship @ 5/1
- 3:43 Wetherby: Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Chase – Primoz @ 9/2
The live action begins with the Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase which has Henry de Bromhead’s July Flower at the head of the betting. She is no stranger to the track having finished fifth in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and opened her account over fences with an 11 length victory at Limerick last month. Dan Skelton’s Be Aware is next in the betting but her main challenge may come from Champion Hurdle runner-up Burdett Road.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup is set to have 15 runners lineup in an open looking renewal. Last year’s winner, Il Ridoto, will attempt the double but will need to overcome a significant hike in the weights. The Festival Plate Handicap Chase winner Jagwar shouldn’t mind the conditions underfoot though will be saddled with top weight of 12st. Our pick for the places goes to Hunter Legend for Venetia Williams who won this back in 1999 with The Outback Way.
The From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle, again at Cheltenham follows before he first live race from Wetherby with the Boyle Sports ‘Introductory’ Hurdle. Both Fresh Perspective for Jamie Snowden and Harry Derham’s Cueros won well in October, but preference is for the latter at the likely odds.
Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s French Ship won a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham just three weeks ago and is our selection for the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle ahead of David Pipe’s Jurancon who is making a return after wind surgery and the top-weight of Royal Infantry for Dan Skelton.
A case can be made for most of the eight runners in Wetherby’s Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Chase. Primoz for Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore could only finish third at the track as the odds-on favourite last month but can bounce back with a victory here.