STAR PREVIEW: Cheltenham Saturday

The winter rain cost jumps racing fans the first day of the November meeting at Cheltenham but good things come to those who wait and we have a bumper card to look forward to on Saturday, thanks to the organisers.

The feature race, the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.25) is going to be an incredibly tough test, with a strong pace accompanied by ground that was just as, if not more heavy, than the deluge that hit the Showcase meeting and heavy ground horses will be hugely important.

Eamon An Cnoic, 12/1 with starsports.bet, was a fair fifth in this race last year and fourth to Siruh Du Lac at the Festival in March. A two-time winner on heavy ground, he is making his seasonal debut after two runs over 2 miles at Aintree and Punchestown in races that might have been too quick for him off a mark in the 130’s, but after a break this should be perfect for and on the balance of his form he can go well in a race like this off 138, especially given his heavy ground record (two from four).

Happy Diva (11/1 with starsports.bet) has a completed record of 132 on heavy, and the eight-year-old who was handily beaten by Guitar Pete (also runs here) at Wetherby on her reappearance could go very well here. As a confirmed performer in testing ground, she has a fine Cheltenham record and is well handicapped based on a line through Guitar Pete, whom she is 5lbs better off with today.

Slate House, a wide margin winner of a novice chase here (on heavy ground) after a second wind operation, and Siruh Du Lac, who jumped his rivals into the ground when beating subsequent Haldon Gold Cup scorer Janika in the Brown Advisory Plate at the Festival here, are obviously going to take some beating, but plenty look well treated at the weights and this is an pen each/way race. Respect is obviously given to Joseph O’Brien’s Us And Them.

Cheltenham November Open Meeting
Saturday 16th November
Racing UK / ITV1 HD
First Race: 12.05pm

The BetVictor Smartcards Handicap Chase (1.50) is a fascinating race with a number of closely matched horses and Achille could spring a small surprise. Venetia Williams is an expert with horses who are running fresh – and Achilles last time out win at Ffos Las (one of the most testing courses in the country) reads very well. Runner up Ami Desbois was second again and then the fifth and seventh from that race have since won, which suggests that Achille can handle this step up in grade, and it’s likely that Venetia Williams will have a good line as to what he can achieve.

Thyme Hill should take some beating if he handles the ground in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle (12.05), although a fair few hav potential for a big performance on testing ground, and the JCB Triumph Trial (12.40) is a fascinating race but surely one to watch.

In the Spinal Injuries Association Big Buck’s Handicap Hurdle (3.00), three catch the eye, and the most persuasive of them is Eminent Poet. He has seven wins on heavy ground and the last time that he got his feet stuck into a soft surface he won at Sandown last December by six lengths off what was just a 5lbs lower mark. This test ought to suit him and Venetia Williams has a fine record with returning handicappers – he can go very close if on form.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Achille 1 pt each/way at 17/2 with starsports.bet
BACK Eamon An Cnoic 1 pt each/way at 12/1 with starsports.bet
BACK Happy Diva 1 pt each/way 1 pt at 11/1 with starsports.bet

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