2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Tips – DS
2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Preview
It wasn’t a day for outsiders on Friday. Only two horses bigger than 10/1 placed and unfortunately, neither were my tips. Gold De Bois ran ok in 4th but that was as good as it got. The other three finished out with the washing on what was a dreadful day. We head into another day tomorrow with renewed optimism, check out Dave’s 2022 Saturday Cheltenham November meeting tips below.
1.45 – Arkle Trial (Grade 2)
Our first NH horse to follow, Rexem, was beat 150+ lengths on his first run after I posted the preview. The Big Doyen did much better, running into a close 2nd at Fairyhouse. Hopefully Tommy’s Oscar can go one better here. Only seven horses run in this Grade 2 Arkle Trial and Ann Hamilton’s son of Oscar is the 11/4 second fav. He jumped really well bar one or two on his chasing debut and he ought to come on for that run. The main worry is that he flopped in the Champion Hurdle here, but that was at the end of a long season. Hopefully he makes amends today.
Monmiral is edging favouritism for Nicholls and Cobden. He was a Grade 1 winner at the back end of 2021 but last season didn’t go so well. The 5yo is clearly very talented and he hails from a yard well able to ready one first time up. He’s never raced at Cheltenham before though and for a horse with his profile, that has to rate as a negative.
Banbridge is another one with claims. He landed a chase by 8L at Gowran last time and he landed the Martin Pipe at the Festival back in March. The 2 mile trip has to be a worry for him today. Pentland Hills was a very talented hurdler but he was given a walkover on his intended chasing debut. He’s had lots of issues in the last couple of years and for today, he’s probably best watched.
Sole No Pretender
With a few firms paying 3 places, it might be worth chancing Sole Pretender e/w. He has more experience over fences than all of these and he ran really well over C&D behind Straw Fan Jack last time out. He was only beat 1.25L for the win and I’d imagine, now that connections know he stays the 2 miles here, Simon Torrens will be more aggressive on him today.
If this horse can get an uncontested lead, he may well be able to put that previous chasing experience to good use. He wasn’t far off the best off these over hurdles and he has already won twice over the bigger obstacles. Hopefully Tommy’s Oscar wins but if he doesn’t, Sole Pretender can hopefully give us some compensation at odds of 16/1.
2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Tips: Sole Pretender e/w @ 16/1 (3 places)
2.20 – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier)
We backed Deyrann de Carjac twice last season on the back of his run in this race. He was beat 9L into 11th but he stayed on well up the hill and he didn’t let us down subsequently. Okay, he failed to win either of those C&D races, off 133 and 131, but he ran on well for 5th in both races, landing place money at decent odds.
Last season he was having his first run of the campaign in this race. Interestingly, Alan King has given him a prep run at Wetherby and he just failed to hold on for the win off 122. He got a 4lbs hike for that neck second behind Ladronne so he is 4lbs ‘wrong’ at the weights today. However, Harry Kimber takes off a valuable 5lbs so that means he is effectively racing off 125.
He was beat around 13L in the two races we backed him in last year, so he should be able to get closer off 6lbs lower than the last effort. Obviously, the 9yo son of Balko isn’t the easiest to win with but if he puts in a good round of jumping, he is capable of going close in a race of this nature off a feather weight. Harry Kimber has had 4 winners from his last 10 rides, including a double at Taunton during the week. Hopefully he can get a good tune out of Deyrann De Carjac at odds of 20/1.
2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Tips: Deyrann De Carjac e/w @ 20/1 (5 places) NB
2.35 Lingfield – Golden Rose Stakes (Listed)
A field of 11 will fight it out for a place at the All Weather Championships in this 6f Listed contest. Logo Hunter comes over from Ireland and he could be the one to beat. The speedy son of Brazen Beau has mostly raced over 5f recently but he won his maiden over this distance at Dundalk. He’s already a dual Listed winner, he has placed at G3 level and if he’s at his best, he should be going very close.
Those looking for some e/w value could do worse than back Strong Power. Alice Haynes has had a brilliant season and she does particularly well with sprinters. This 5yo son of Kodiac is an all weather specialist. He has won 5 races on the a/w compared to one on grass. His last start saw him edge Spangled Mac by a head in a 6f handicap at Wolves off 93.
That was arguably a career best and like many sprinters, he seems to be improving with age. He was only 0.5L behind subsequent G3 and G2 placed Misty Grey two runs back and I think he looks well worth a shot in stakes company. Haynes’ charge has won four times at Lingfield and he was only beat 0.5L in a 5f Listed race here back in February. He has a nice draw too so at odds of 18/1, Strong Power is the e/w pick.
2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Tips: Strong Power e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)
2.55 – Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A cracking 24f handicap hurdle and 13 are due to go to post. On The Blind Side won this in 2020 and he is back for a repeat bid on his seasonal reappearance. He is a pound lower this time and if he is fully fit and ready to go, he could go well again. However, the most interesting one here now upped in trip is Zoffanien. Crack Irish claimer Daniel King is over to ride Denis Hogan’s charge and it looks like he might have been trained for this race.
He is in off a mark of 137 today, 11lbs higher than he was when winning at Kilbeggan. King’s 5lbs claim negates some of that rise though and this new trip could bring about more improvement. He is bred to get this trip, his dam being a half sister to Melbourne Cup winner Americain. King had a spin on him on the flat three weeks ago and that should have him spot on fitness wise for this race.
He actually stayed on nicely in that 12f Gowran race, an encouraging sign ahead of this step up in distance. Zoffanien has tried 21f and 24f before, but the ground was easy. His best form is on good and today’s conditions look perfect. He didn’t jump well on his sole previous Cheltenham run in the Fred Winter in 2021 but he is better in that department now and he was only 8L behind the winner. If he puts in a nice round of jumping today, he could go very close at odds of 12/1.
2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Tips: Zoffanien e/w @ 12/1 (4 places) NAP
3.10 Lingfield – Churchill Stakes (Listed)
Another fast track qualifier for the All Weather Champs, this time over 10f. To be honest, it is hard to make a case for any of the outsiders here. The top 5 or 6 are miles clear on ratings and if most of them run to form, they should be filling the first four places. Majestic Dawn has a nice draw in stall 2 but the weight he has to carry is off putting against this level of opposition.
Evania is unbeaten after two runs, one over C&D, but she is rated 85 and she’d need to improve 20lbs to trouble the best of these. The Wizard Of Eye is a horse we have backed the last twice but he is unproven on the all weather and over this distance. I’m going to keep the powder dry for this race, no bet.
2022 Saturday Cheltenham November Meeting Tips: No Bet
3.30 – Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
Judging from the handicap hurdle results on Friday, the Irish raiders seem to have the edge. The extra weight allotted by the handicapper hasn’t been enough to stem the tide and two of the three market leaders here are Irish trained. Tony Martin rattled the crossbar with Explosive Boy on Friday and Unanswered is fav for him. He’s been in good form on the flat since hacking up at Punchestown on his last run over hurdles and although he is 22lbs higher today, he looks to be a horse improving rapidly.
Elle Perfecta is the other Irish horse at the head of the betting. Colm Murphy is no stranger to success at Cheltenham and this horse landed a Listowel handicap last time out off 114. She is now 13lbs higher off 127 and for me, the biggest worry is this testing track. She didn’t exactly power up the Galway hill over 16f so I’m happy to leave her alone on this occasion.
Back On Better Ground
At huge odds, maybe Wild Hunt can go well for Denis Hogan. He rides this horse himself and he will appreciate the return to better ground. This son of Dubawi flopped on really testing ground at Galway a fortnight ago. However, he previously ran really well over 24f at Listowel on good when beat just 4L off 116.
His two wins back in the Spring came on heavy (24f) at Clonmel and soft (20f) at Down Royal but they both came off lowly marks. His last two runs on good ground have arguably been his best hurdling efforts and I am willing to put a line through that Galway run. Hogan’s sole runner here on Friday ran a nice race to finish 6th, hopefully he can land a double with Zoffanien and this fella on Saturday. At odds of 33/1, Wild Hunt is the e/w selection.
