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 Cheltenham on a superb afternoon…
1.10 Cheltenham – AUREA FORTUNA (1pt win – 4/1 bet365)
Given a whopping 15lbs rise for an easy four-length win at Punchestown last month, AUREA FORTUNA will be looking to follow that win up in a competitive contest at 1.10pm. That was his second win from his last three starts and Tony Martin’s charge will have more on his plate here off a new mark of 111, while he steps up in trip for this contest. However, plenty of Saturday’s rivals head into the contest in disappointing form and while they may be on the downgrade he’s well and truly on the upgrade. He has winning form with a bit of give in the ground, so he should be able to act in likely rain-softened conditions, and he can prove to still be ahead of the handicapper.
2.20 Cheltenham – COMING UP EASY (1pt win – 12/1 William Hill)
Henry De Bromhead already has some of Cheltenham’s most iconic trophies in his trophy room, but the Irish handler can add another to the collection this weekend as COMING UP EASY looks the one to be with in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.20pm. With the likes of reigning champion Il Ridoto, festival winner Jagwar and the improving Bad all potentially in the handicapper’s grip, this Irish raider could still be ahead of his and the upwardly mobile seven-year-old can land the prestigious prize on Saturday. He’s notched three chase wins on the bounce, which includes a five-length win of a Listed event at Killarney in August and he can continue his winning ways. Given a 10lbs rise for that facile success, he will have a mark of 142 to contend with, but the De Bromhead team know what it takes to win at Prestbury Park and this could be his next graded horse in the making.
2.55 Cheltenham – LONG DRAW (1pt win – 5/1 Sky Bet)
Supremely West and LONG DRAW finished third and fourth in a Pertemps qualifier at Cheltenham back at the October meeting and the pair are well fancied to go well in the 2.55pm on Saturday. The former is much shorter in the betting having finished ahead of Olly Murphy’s charge last time out, but he was in receipt of 1lb that day, so the 11st 6lbs they both run off this Saturday could see them finish closer together. Long Draw is 10lbs higher than his win at the April meeting last season, but he’s sure to improve significantly for that run last month, and with the combination of Murphy and Sean Bowen in such red-hot form this season then Long Draw can get his head in front again.
3.30 Cheltenham – KAP BOY (1pt win – 9/1 bet365)
It could prove to be a fantastic afternoon for the Murphy/Bowen combination as they team up in the next race at 3.30pm with KAP BOY, who was brilliant when winning last time out and looks capable of more over hurdles. He beat Tread Softly Now by seven lengths, and with that runner cruising to victory earlier in the week, then the form has been franked. This is much tougher than that Perth win last month and he’s 9lbs higher in the handicap, but he has the capabilities of going in again. The likes of French Ship and Jurancon have to be given the utmost respect, but they could be vulnerable to the lighter-weighted Kap Boy, who can continue his progression with a win here.
GG Racing Lucky 15 Tips For Saturdy 15th November
1.10 Cheltenham – AUREA FORTUNA (1pt win – 4/1 bet365)