It’s the concluding afternoon of Cheltenham’s November Meeting on Sunday and they’ve got the ultra-competitive Greatwood Hurdle amongst today’s action.
Further jumps meetings comes from Fontwell and Navan – including the clash of Flooring Porter and Bob Olinger in Ireland – on a busy afternoon of National Hunt action.
Amongst our fancies is smart novice chaser with Cheltenham form expected bring Nicky Henderson to the November Meeting party.
Selections
- Cheltenham 13:10 – Mister Coffey @ 11/8
- Cheltenham 14:55 – Harbour Lake @ 11/1
- Fontwell 14:05 – Full Back @ 5/2
- Navan 13:55 – Flooring Porter @ 11/4
Tip 1
Nicky Henderson was out of luck on Saturday, though the returning Wiseguy ran a cracker in second behind heavily-backed winner Unanswered, but it would rate a surprise if the Seven Barrows supremo doesn’t find the target on day three at Cheltenham.
He’s got some excellent chances and none more so than MISTER COFFEY (11/8) in the opening mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase (13:10).
He showed some fine form last season without getting his head in front as a chaser, including finishing second in the Kim Muir over 3m2f at The Festival here in March.
He’s got the best form in the book on seasonal comeback taking on novices and he’s won three times on seasonal bow in the past. He looks primed for a team going well despite drawing a blank here yesterday.
Tip 2
Alan King has started the jumps season proper in bright form and the Barbury Castle handler has an excellent record in Greatwood Hurdle (14:55) at Cheltenham, where HARBOUR LAKE (11/1) is one of two contenders to give the trainer a third win in six years.
Harbour Lake has won all four completed starts over hurdles so far (brought down in the other) and returned to action with a game success at Market Rasen last month despite conceding chunks of weight to the pair that fought out the finish with him.
He’s up to a mark of 135 now and we may not yet have seen the best of this six-year-old. He’s got a brace of wins at two miles and a couple more over further, and that proven stamina is no bad thing over a stiff track such as this in a race that should be hotly contested.
Jockey Tom Cannon has enjoyed a winner on both days of the November Meeting so far, and he could make it a Cheltenham treble.
Tip 3
The Southern National Handicap Chase (14:05) is the feature contest at Fontwell this afternoon and trainer Gary Moore – who has a 22 per cent strike-rate at this track in the previous 12 months – can land the prize with FULL BACK (5/2).
Last month’s Ascot comeback saw him finishing a pleasing fourth in the London Gold Cup and, while he’s got top-weight to shoulder here, the opposition doesn’t look to be of the same quality.
With improvement anticipated – has won twice on second start of the season in the past – and his stamina assured given he won over three-and-a-quarter miles around Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, he’s fancied to justify his spot on Sunday’s Most Napped table via the Betfred Betfinder.
Tip 4
It’s surely an anomaly to find Bob Olinger the short-priced favourite for the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle (13:55) at Navan this afternoon given he lost his way last season as a chaser – despite a Cheltenham Festival win.
Henry De Bromhead’s charge now reverts back to the smaller obstacles, but there’s some reputation-repairing to be done for him.
Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr, third in the Champion Hurdle in March, goes well fresh and is respected, but FLOORING PORTER (11/4) is the one to beat.
The two-time Stayers’ Hurdle winner likely would have won this last year bar a mishap at the second last and, while his two main market rivals are talented sorts, they have to prove they are up to his level.
