Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The jumps season is really up and running now, so we are into the big Cheltenham November meeting with the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday.
It’s just a pity that ITV Racing are ignoring the jump meetings at Uttoxeter and Wetherby and are showing the all-weather card at Newcastle instead – we are in the jumps season after all!
Perhaps the excuse for showing two races from Newcastle is that they are Listed contests, but the day’s highlight is, of course, Cheltenham, from where four races are to be televised, they include two Class 1s, a Class 2 and a Class 3.
So, a lot to look forward to, and here are my thoughts for the Cheltenham meeting.
Saturday Cheltenham Lucky Fifteen
1.45 San Salvador
2.20 In Excelsis Deo
2.55 Noble Birth
3.30 Wyenot
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The first of the four races being televised from Cheltenham is the Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices Chase at 1.45, this is Grade 2 contest run over 2 miles. The bookies’ favourite here is Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud after his fine victory at Stratford at the end of last month on his first chase entry. He ran second here in a hurdle race at the festival in March.
Neil King’s Lookaway also won on his chase debut, although he only had to beat one opponent at Uttoxeter at the start of this month. He won a novice hurdle here at Cheltenham in 2023. I think this pair of winners will find this a lot tougher.
Western Zephyr, trained by Charlie Longsdon, won a small novice Chase at Carlisle in October, but this is a major step up in class.
Paul Robson’s Breizh River won a couple of lowly handicaps in the summer, then popped up to just get home in a Class 2 at Kelso last month. He could be placed.
But my preference is for the Irish raider San Salvador trained by Joseph O’Brien, who won at Listowel and Roscommon in September, then came here to Cheltenham three weeks ago and finished a good third. Second in that race was Adrian Keatley’s Noble Anthem and these two can fight out the finish.
The 2.20 is the big race of the day, the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 contest run over 2m 4f. Top weight is Dan Skelton’s Protektorat, the class horse here who won the Ryanair last March. He then ran third at Aintree in April in another Grade 1, but he has plenty of weight.
Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law blew away the cobwebs with a fine second at Chepstow last month and had several of these behind him that day. He can confirm these placings, but his weight is a problem.
Paul Nicholls’s Ginny’s Destiny is fancied after winning here three times last season but he has been beaten twice when stepping up to Graded company.
Nicholls’s other runner, Il Ridoto, was unsuccessful last season and ran poorly at Chepstow last month on his seasonal reappearance.
Imagine looks interesting for Harry Derham after winning twice in Ireland a year ago. His run in January was disappointing, but it is believed he was then put away with this race in mind. He will find it tough.
The best of the Irish runners looks to be Henry de Bromhead’s Lets Go Champ, who was a winner at Punchestown in May but ran disappointingly at Galway in July. He will give a good account of himself.
I like Harry Fry’s In Excelsis Deo, who won a Grade 2 here at Cheltenham in April. He ran at the Galway Festival but didn’t jump well and was pulled up when beaten. He’s back at his favourite course and is well handicapped.
The From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle is at 2.55. This is run over 3 miles and is a Class 2 race. Nigel Twiston-Davies has the top weight with Gowel Road who ran second here last month. He may have to settle for a place once more with 12st on his back.
Paul Nicholls’s Emailandy ran consistently well last season winning twice and placed four times until his final race when he ran poorly at Sandown after a hard season. The summer break will have done him the world of good, and I expect him to go well.
Dan Skelton’s Doyen Quest won three of his last four races last season and was fancied to continue that run here at Cheltenham last month but was beaten 4 lengths. This looks tougher.
Nicky Henderson’s Quick Draw was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance, and steps up in class more in hope than expectation.
Gavin Cromwell’s Noble Birth looks the one to be on now he is reverting back to hurdling after three disappointing chase efforts. He won well at Naas in February and comes here on a handy mark.
The 3.30 is the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle, a Class 3 contest run over 2m 5f. Ben Pauling’s Champagne Twist followed up a victory at Doncaster in January with another fine win at Sandown in March. He then stepped up to Graded company at Aintree and was well beaten. He drops back in class and will be tough to beat despite his weight.
Paul Nicholls’s Fire Flyer won twice in February but was unable to follow up on his final two runs of the season.
Dan Skelton’s Major Fortune ran up a five-time winning spree last season, then came out this term and won a Class 4 at Newton Abbot, but he will find this a lot tougher.
There is an Irish runner at the top of the handicap, Paul Gilligan’s Kings Hill, but he has been lumped with 12 stone.
At the other end of the ratings, AJ Martin’s Hamsiyann, who is just a 4-year-old, is thrown into the action after just four runs, and his fine third in a Class 2 at Ascot in March shows he cannot be discounted.
I just prefer Henry Daly’s Wyenot, who was 3 from 5 last season and won here last month after making all. The booking of Sam Twiston-Davies should be noted
Saturday Cheltenham Lucky Fifteen
1.45 San Salvador
2.20 In Excelsis Deo
2.55 Noble Birth
3.30 Wyenot
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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