The November meeting gets under way at Cheltenham on Friday, with Jonbon bidding for a third Shloer Chase win at 2.20pm. The going has eased to good, good to soft in places for the opening day of the three-day fixture.
Joe Napier picks out three selections from Friday’s card, including an Irish raider in the Listed novices’ chase.
1.45 Cheltenham – D Art D Art
The fact that Derryhassen Paddy is a clear favourite here speaks to his potential, but he has been clumsy at times so far over fences. The 2025 Albert Bartlett third could obviously kick on with a run under his belt, but there are reasonable dangers. One of those comes from Ireland in the shape of D ART D ART for Thomas Cooper. The yard have already surpassed their winners tally from 2025/26 this season, firing in at a useful rate. The selection was one of those when winning a Wexford beginners’ chase in May, in which he beat former Grade 1-winning hurdler Hiddenvalley Lake. Though the rest of that form looks mixed, he did well to beat a rival of that calibre. He returned with a competitive effort in Grade 3 company at Gowran Park over too short a trip and will be more at home stepping up beyond 3m. Better ground is ideal for him too and he ran well in the Pertemps Final at the Festival two seasons ago.
2.55 Cheltenham – Triple Trade
Former course winner TRIPLE TRADE looks ready to excel in veteran races at this intermediate trip. The ten-year-old won over 2m on the Old Course here in 2023 and 2025, also running well twice on the New Course last campaign. He was third behind some very well-handicapped opponents at the December meeting, and on Trials Day, before struggling towards the end of the season. He remains attractively treated on a mark of 130 against his fellow elders here, with the trip ideal and the going no concern either. He has won second time out for the season in the past even if he also goes well fresh and the Tizzard yard form remains a positive.
3.30 Cheltenham – Petersham Place
It is a surprise to see Olly Murphy’s PETERSHAM PLACE available at significant double-figure odds for this Grade 2 prize. This race has tended to throw up decent winners, though this is an open renewal, and the six-year-old boasts a similar profile to favourite Ferocimo, who represents 2024’s winning connections. He was a point-to-point winner on his only start between the sticks before making his debut four weeks ago at Perth. He was set to do battle with Dan Skelton’s Eastern Fire at the finish before that rival came down at the last. However, Petersham Place saw the race out really well off a slow pace and may well have won anyway. Therefore, the extra furlong is not seen as a concern here and Eastern Fire has won since, while the eventual runner-up had useful bumper form. Plenty of factors combine to suggest he can outrun his odds under the champion jockey.
