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 – BECTIVE ABBEY (1pt win – 10/1 Betfred)
Nicky Henderson’s BECTIVE ABBEY has had very little racing, but if he can replicate his run from Ffos Las two starts ago then he can certainly be competitive in the opening race at 1.10pm. He was last seen over fences, where he was second at Southwell, but it’s interesting that he Seven Barrows opt for the smaller obstacles on Friday. Wind surgery certainly aided him in that Ffos Las win and with Henderson beginning to find his way this season then Bective Abbey could potentially be progressive this season, and with top conditional Freddie Gordon taking the ride then he has to be a leading player.
1.45 Cheltenham – FUGITIF (1pt win – 3/1 generally)
Some old favourites will line up in the veterans contest at 1.45pm with Mister Coffey bidding for his first win over fences, whilst Gunsight Ridge and Eldorado Allen are another brace of eye-catching runners. However, Richard Hobson’s FUGITIF can strike gold in this event, as a much needed drop in class could see him rise to the top. A former winner of the December Gold Cup at the track, he’s a horse that has struggled at a higher level, but a further drop in the handicap means he lines up here off 145. He is sure to be at the back through the first half of the race, but the front-running Mister Coffey can set it up for him, as that raider has often faltered up the hill, whilst Fugitif will come with a barnstorming run late on.
3.30 Cheltenham – HEADS UP (1pt win – 5/2 generally)
John McConnell’s HEADS UP ran an almighty race when chasing home Bambino Fever in the Champion Bumper at the festival in March and the Irish raider can return to the scene of his best run and claim victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle trial at 3.30pm. Currently a 50/1 shot for the big Grade 1 contest in the spring, the five-year-old made an impressive hurdles debut when winning at Listowel in September and he’s open to huge improvement here. He steps up to 2m 5f from 2m for this contest, but he certainly wasn’t stretched last time out and he could be one that improves for the step up in trip, so has to be a huge challenger in a race that lacks strength in depth.
4.00 Cheltenham – JACK HYDE (1pt win – 12/1 William Hill)
A Grade 2 winner at the October meeting, Fortune De Mer is a fascinating contender off top weight in this handicap finale, but there’s plenty in with chances and one that catches the eye is Fergal O’Brien’s JACK HYDE, who is available at double-figured odds, at the time of writing. He was fifth in that same contest, but just struggled to see it out in the closing stages having been up with the pace for a long time. The Skelton-trained winner that day came from off the pace, so the race certainly suited him, so if Jack Hyde can be a little more patiently ridden then he could be a huge runner. In receipt of weight this time around with Fortune De Mer, he will also have Tom Broughton’s 5lb claim as well, so he’s certainly capable of turning last month’s result around.
GG Racing Lucky 15 Tips For Friday 14th November
1.10 Cheltenham – BECTIVE ABBEY (1pt win – 10/1 Betfred)
1.45 Cheltenham – FUGITIF (1pt win – 3/1 generally)