Racing at Cheltenham is back this weekend for the November Meeting, across Friday through to Sunday.
Friday’s feature race is the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett before more graded and top-class contests including the Triumph Trial, The Arkle Trial and the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
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Cheltenham November Meeting tips
- Friday
3,30: Valgrand 5/2 - Saturday
12.35: Liam Swagger
2.20: Imagine 6/1
3.30: Major Fortune 7/1
Valgrand
Valgrand was a ready winner here last month beating Gale Mahler by 17 lengths and looks ready to step up to this trip.
The Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old won over an extended 2m3f at Bangor on his final appearance last season and returned looking better than ever, earning a huge rise in the weights.
Since switching to hurdles he’s 3-3, though does face some unexposed sorts too, not carrying a 5lb penalty.
But the manner in which he won against some very good opponents, suggests there’s more to come and his antepost price is more appealing.
Liam Swagger
One of a few horses that has been mentioned numerous times in ones to follow in the jumps season.
Won well over Torrent at Market Rasen and then just by a neck to Static at Wetherby in a listed Juvenile Hurdle in the first of this month.
Makes a quick reappearance but is among the top three-year-olds, depending if he makes the trip over stablemate East India Dock, both of which have Sam Twiston-Davies booked to be on board.
Imagine
Stage Star won the November Meeting Gold Cup last year and his stablemate Ginny’s Destiny could replicate that off the same mark, as one of the frontrunners in the antepost betting.
Despite carrying more some horses can just show their class in these handicaps, though Protektorat who does carry top-weight will be giving away a minimum of 12lb to the rest of the field which is a tough task.
Ga Law also runs off the same weight as Ginny’s Destiny and has run well here including winning in January’s Grade 3 over 2m5f.
Imagine is an interesting runner that may take some beating as the six-year-old looks to progress for new trainer Harry Derham.
He’s placed well behind some top horses including over hurdles at Cheltenham Festival 2023 in the Martin Pipe hurdle and won twice in November last year in Ireland making him a great each-way play in the Gold Cup.
He beat the likes of Pinkerton, Inothewayurthinkin, Sandor Clegane on his seasonal debut last year and has only been seen three times over fences so could be dangerously unexposed.
Good ground is a bit of a concern here for this year’s renewal and that could benefit other rivals, but he’s still a danger under Paul O’Brien.
Major Fortune
This Skelton-trained gelding is a promising star for the yard this season after winning stylishly on seasonal debut and has shown form over hurdles over a variety of distances.
He could enter this race or go for the 3m Handicap Hurdle instead, but will be fancied regardless off what could be a low weight to what he’s capable of.
Champagne Twist could well pick up the pieces if Major Fortune goes for another race on Saturday, though there are a few each-way punts that could be better upon the declarations on Thursday.
Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss
- October ’24: +21.57
- From May ’24: +155.99pts
- From July ’23: +368.55pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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