Heralding the opening of Cheltenham’s November meeting, Andrew Mount has three best bets for you to follow across the opening day’s card.
Posted: 4.07pm, Thursday, November 13th
12.57 Southwell – ALI STAR BERT (1pt win – 12/1 generally)
Course expert ALI STAR BERT doesn’t always find as much for pressure as looks likely, but he’s better equipped than all of his rivals to handle the likely heavy ground (currently good to soft, soft in places but with biblical rain forecast prior to racing). The Shaun Harris-trained nine-year-old has form figures at the Nottinghamshire venue of 21212223214 (3-11) for a profit of £6.50 to a £1 level stake at SP and often goes well at this time of year. He finished a 12-1 second in this race last year on ground faster than ideal, was a heavy-ground scorer on his first course visit in the 2023/24 season and returns here rated 9lb lower than for his 3m2f victory in March. I considered advising him each-way, even with only six runners but the rain could lead to non-runners, and this could yet end up as a win only race.
1.45 Cheltenham – MISTER COFFEY (0.5pt e/w – 6/1 generally (Hills paying one-quarter 1,2,3) & 1pt ‘to finish exactly 2nd’ – Coral, Sky Bet and William Hill will offer this market on the day of the race)
If Cheltenham goes ahead, I don’t want to miss MISTER COFFEY on his debut in veterans’ handicap chase company, especially with the forecast deluge in his favour. Nicky Henderson’s ten-year-old has the ideal age profile for a race of this nature and rarely runs a bad race in Class 2 or lower company, recording form figures of 11213222223225 (3-14), with the fifth place coming in the Cross Country at last season’s Cheltenham festival. Those eight second places suggest that the value may lie with him to finish exactly second, a market offered by Sky Bet, Coral and William Hill.
4.00 Cheltenham – PURE GOLD (1pt each-way, 18/1 Hills, five places, 16/1 generally with the other firms paying five places)
PURE GOLD didn’t settle on her debut for Lisa Harrison, pulling up when 28-1 for a 2m4f Perth novices but showed plenty more in 2m handicap hurdles at the same venue the next twice – finishing a two-length 33-1 fourth of seven and a four-length 7-2 fourth of eight, though racing keenly again on each occasion. Everything clicked at Uttoxeter next time where the big field (12 ran) helped her to settle better and she won well at 9-1. Wins at Perth and Hexham followed, and she looked very unlucky not to complete her hat-trick at Wetherby last time where she was keeping on strongly before coming down at the last flight. The form book says her wins have come on good or good to soft going but Proform rated the Hexham ground as heavy and I’m expecting the daughter of Golden Horn to cope with the likely deep going. The big field/strong pace will play to her strengths.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
12.57 Southwell – ALI STAR BERT (1pt win – 12/1 generally)
1.45 Cheltenham – MISTER COFFEY (0.5pt e/w – 6/1 generally (Hills paying one-quarter 1,2,3) & 1pt ‘to finish exactly 2nd’ – Coral, Sky Bet and William Hill will offer this market on the day of the race)
4.00 Cheltenham – PURE GOLD (1pt each-way, 18/1 Hills, five places, 16/1 generally with the other firms paying five places)
Mister CoffeyAndrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Friday, 14th November
GG Lucky 15 tips – Cheltenham ITV Racing tips for Friday 14th November
Cheltenham play host to day one of their November Meeting on Friday 14th November, and there are some cracking taking place at the home of National Hunt racing. The ITV Racing cameras will be at Prestbury Park and we focus our attentions on the Gloucestershire action and pick out our GG Lucky 15 tips from…
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