The National Hunt season gets into full swing this weekend with the three day action packed November Meeting at Cheltenham. The feature race, The Bet Victor Gold Cup on Saturday, is our chief focus. Despite not having produced any headline grabbing Grade One staying chasers for a number of years, it’s still a key race for the early season and a great betting heat.
We’ll take a look at the first six in the betting and give some pointers to the best value. Kylemore Lough trained by the ever improving Harry Fry leads the market currently and has been the subject of some steady speculation this week.
KYLEMORE LOUGH
The 8 year old Kylemore Lough is a recent acquisition to the Harry Fry team after having transferred from Kerry Lee’s stable during the summer. He’s a class act having won the Grade One Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in 2016 but does lack any recent meaty form. His last outing was 17 lengths fourth behind Fox Norton in the Mildmay chase at Aintree last April. Better value is definitely to be had elsewhere considering his current best price of 7/1 (bet365).
TULLY EAST
Tully East has also seen some money flying his way this week. Punters have backed him down from 12/1 in the last couple of days and based on his excellent form over the course and distance, this move seems well justified. He ran a great race at The Festival in March to land the 2m 4 handicap there and was 4th in the same race in 2016. He clearly performs at his optimum best at this trip. He looks well handicapped and should give punters a decent run at 8/1 with most firms.
BALLYALTON
Ballyalton is another who has been well backed this week (20’s into 10’s) and he also holds a course and distance win albeit from the Festival in 2016. Clearly needed the run last time out at Aintree and should improve for that. Best priced at 12/1 most firms.
FOXTAIL HILL
This Nigel Twiston-Davies trained 8 year old has bags of ability and if allowed to dominate, he could take all the beating. He ran an absolute blinder at Cheltenham last time out, over the course and distance. Making all and jumping boldly, he held off a brave challenge from the talented Le Prezien to register a very game but narrow win. He clearly excels over the mid distance trips and with the Twiston-Davies yard bang in form, this has to be the selection. I’m not too concerned with the slight increase at the weights and at 12/1 (Betfair) he should easily land each-way spoils with firms offering place bonuses, up to 5 or even 6 places.
LE PREZIEN
Paul Nicholls brings a strong hand to this year’s renewal and Le Prezien for me just holds the edge over stable mate Romain De Senam. He wasn’t quite good enough to edge out Foxtail Hill in the handicap at Cheltenham last time out but they do meet with Le Prezien on slightly better terms at the weights. My main concern would be that most of his wins have come at 2 miles. However, he is not to be discounted. Best priced with William Hill at 12/1.
GOLD PRESENT
This Nicky Henderson trained 7 year old has a great chance based on his 2nd behind Tully East at The Festival last March. He is one pound better off against that rival now and Nicky Henderson believes the course and distance is his ideal trip. Best priced at 12/1 with bet365 and William Hill.
THE BET VICTOR HANDICAP CHASE, SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER
The big stayers’ handicap looks a cracking betting heat to get into also. I don’t usually go for top weights but I would be fearful of ignoring a decent run in The Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup which Minella Rocco surprisingly demonstrated last March. Finishing 2 ½ lengths behind Sizing John is sizzling form and I think his return to action at Punchestown last month where he stayed on a one paced 4th should bring him on nicely for this. Best priced 8/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral.
THE BET VICTOR HANDICAP CHASE, FRIDAY 17TH NOVEMBER
Friday’s main betting race is the 2 mile version of the Bet Victor sponsored handicap and Doitforthevillage looks like he may improve on his 6th behind Foxtail Hill over course and distance last time out. Good each way chances with bet365 at 10/1.
RECAP:
The Bet Victor Gold Cup, Saturday 18th November, 1425.
FOXTAIL HILL each way 12/1 at Betfair
The Bet Victor Handicap Chase, Saturday 18th November, 1350.
MINELLA ROCCO win 8/1 at Coral
The Bet Victor Handicap Chase, Friday 17th November, 1350.
DOITFORTHEVILLAGE each way 10/1 at bet365
Good luck at Cheltenham this weekend!
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (12:00 16th November 2017) and are subject to change.
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