Cheltenham November Day 3 Tips by Dave Stevos
Cheltenham November Day 3 Tips: All Live ITV Races
We finally ended our winless run on Saturday at Cheltenham. Unfortunately it wasn’t Domaine De L’Isle though. The rain he needed didn’t fall until after his race and he could never get involved. Zarkareva was outclassed and is no Put The Kettle On. Golan Future ran a blinder in 3rd, just getting run out of it late on. Stimulating Song relished the testing conditions and provided Milton Harris with a welcome Saturday winner. Martello Sky was very well backed and ran well, but not well enough to land e/w bets. The 3 day meeting at Cheltenham finishes on Sunday. Check out Dave Stevos’ Cheltenham November Day 3 and Punchestown tips below…
Cheltenham November Day 3 Tips: 1.40pm – Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Judging by the rain that was falling at Cheltenham yesterday, conditions will be attritional today. This 3m 3.5f trip will take some getting and 8 will battle it out for the Grade 3 handicap prize. We backed Big River when he ran a cracker at the festival in March. Lucinda Russell’s 10yo is likely to be aimed at that race again and while conditions today will be no problem, he may well need the run like he did last season when he ran a stinker in this race. Yala Enki is another one making his seasonal reappearance. He has gone well fresh in the past but this race is surely a stepping stone for a repeat bid in the Welsh National.
The one I like off a mark of 149 is Ramses De Teillee for Pipe and Scudamore. This dashing grey loves testing ground and conditions will be right up his street here. He made a satisfactory comeback in France a month ago when 5th over 25.5f. The 8yo is a 7 time winner at around 3 miles with 5 of those coming on heavy ground. He won a class 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham on heavy a year ago and he has placed in the Welsh National. If Tom Scudamore gets to dictate in front I think a bold bid could be on the cards and at odds of 8/1, Ramses De Teillee is the e/w selection.
Cheltenham November Day 3 Tips: Ramses de Teillee e/w @ 8/1 NB
Punchestown Sunday: 2.10pm – Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1)
We get a nice bonus race from Punchestown on ITV this Sunday, the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle. There should be festival clues aplenty in this race, even if only 5 horses take their chances. Last year’s impressive County Hurdle hero Saint Roi heads the market for Mullins, McManus and Walsh. The 5yo is a very exciting prospect and he won takingly on his return in a Grade 3 at Tipperary. This will be the son of Coastal Path’s first start at the top level though and I am not sure the extremely testing conditions will play to his strengths.
Abacadabras, on the other hand, is already a Grade 1 winner. He won at Leopardstown over Xmas and then ran a massive race behind Shishkin in the Supreme. Gordon Elliott’s charge was no match for Aspire Tower at Down Royal on his return but he should strip fitter now. Given that he is proven at this level and won on similar ground to today’s in the past, I would prefer him to Saint Roi at the current prices.
If there is going to be an upset, Jason The Militant looks the most likely candidate to cause it. Henry De Bromhead’s 6yo has very little to find with Abacadabras on their meeting at Down Royal. He has form figures of 112 on soft/heavy, including a Grade 2 at Naas last term. Jason The Militant did have a fitness edge on the Elliott horse last time but on this ground he could get very close to him again. If either of the top two fluff their lines, Jason The Militant could benefit and at 20/1 a small e/w interest is the order of the day.
Morgiana Hurdle Tip: Jason The Militant e/w @ 20/1
Cheltenham: 2.25pm – Shloer Chase (Grade 2)
This is another race that will be contested by five horses with festival hopes. Last year’s winner Defi Du Seuil is the obvious starting point. Richard Johnson gets the ride and this horse was all the rage for the Champion Chase last term. He came into the race after winning 3 in a row but unfortunately he failed to fire at Cheltenham and was well beat. The son of Voix Du Nord has gone well fresh before and he won this on his return last season. He loves soft ground too and he should be hard to beat.
Put The Kettle On won the Arkle last season and she makes her return in a very hot race. She handles soft ground alright but if it comes up very testing it would be a worry. Rouge Vif is another that would prefer better ground and Riders On the Storm is best over further. Duc De Genievres, the Arkle winner two seasons ago is another who would prefer a nicer surface. When you consider all of that, Defi Du Seuil looks to have an outstanding chance and I can’t look past him at odds of 2/1.
Cheltenham November Day 3 Tips: Defi Du Seuil Win @ 2/1
Cheltenham 3.00pm – Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
A field of 17 will battle it out for the 16.5f Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle this year. Olly Murphy runs two and I think Strong Glance has solid e/w claims at a nice price. This horse ran a blinder last time out at Aintree when 3rd off 129 (20f sft). His last win came over 18f at Market Rasen back in January on soft ground so one thing he doesn’t lack is stamina. That could be an important attribute today on very soft ground and he will have zero issues with the conditions. He travelled well for a long way over 20f his sole run on heavy, he just didn’t get home.
16f on very testing ground should be grand for him and he is a former course winner. He scored in a bumper back in 2018 over 16f so there are no worries regarding the suitability of the track. Fergus Gregory takes off a handy 3lb so Strong Glance is effectively just 1lb higher than for his excellent Aintree effort. Gregory is 1/2 on board this fella and 10/29 with 10 Top 4s when riding for Olly Murphy. All things considered, Strong Glance looks a big price at 20/1 and with 6 places on offer, he is worth backing each way.
Cheltenham November Day 3 Tips: Strong Glance e/w @ 20/1 NAP (6 Places)
Cheltenham 3.35pm – Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
The final live race on ITV from the November Meeting is this 16.5f novices’ hurdle. Only 6 go to post and Third Time Lucki is a warm order for the Skeltons. The son of Arcadio has won 4 of his last 5, including a pair of novice heats at Wetherby and Uttoxeter on his last two starts. The sole defeat during his good run of form came in the Champion Bumper when he finished a creditable 4th. He won a couple of soft ground bumpers so the ground should be fine for him.
However, the one I’ll be taking a chance on is Irish raider Jungle Junction. Robbie Power rides for Jessie Harrington and this son of Elusive Pimpernel will love the testing ground. A heavy ground maiden hurdle winner at Navan last February, he unseated at the same track in a Grade 3 on his return. The form of his win hasn’t worked out but he did it well and he seems to love the uphill finish at Navan. He holds a Grade 1 entry for the Royal Bond so clearly connections must think quite a bit of him and he could find the necessary improvement to be competitive on ground he loves. At odds of 9/1 he is the e/w pick.
