Should you back or avoid these five favourites at Cheltenham's November meeting this weekend?
Cheltenham’s November meeting takes place this weekend and looking ahead to what promises to be a fantastic three days of racing, we have assessed the chances of five ante-post favourites and decided whether they rate a back or avoid at their current odds . . .
Delta Work
Race: Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2.55, Friday)
Odds: 2-1
A five-time Grade 1 winner, Delta Work has won the last two runnings of the Glenfarclas Chase at the festival, most recently denying stablemate Galvin in March.
He is entitled to strip fitter for his reappearance third in a Punchestown Grade 3 in October, and the return to this discipline looks an obvious plus.
The Gordon Elliott-trained ten-year-old found a rating of 160 beyond him in the last running of this race, however, and he is racing off just a 1lb lower mark here.
Verdict: Form figures in cross-country chases read 1131 but a mark of 159 asks plenty of him and softer ground would be preferable. AVOID
Mister Coffey
Race: From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Novices' Chase (1.45, Saturday)
Odds: 5-2
A third-season novice chaser whose record over fences currently reads 0-9, while his losing run stretches back to November 2020.
Has placed in chases at the last two festivals, finishing runner-up in the 2022 Kim Muir before a third in the National Hunt Chase in March.
He was last seen finishing eighth in the Grand National at Aintree, where he led approaching the final fence. His stamina appeared to give way in both the National Hunt Chase and Grand National, so dropping back to 3m½f should suit on his seasonal debut.
Verdict: A handicap mark of 142 shouldn’t be beyond him, but he is far from the easiest horse to win with and faces some unexposed rivals here. AVOID
Stage Star
Race: Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.20, Saturday)
Odds: 4-1
He produced form figures of 12111 in his first five starts over fences, culminating in an impressive victory in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at the festival.
However, he failed to match that level of form when trailing home last of five in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree when last seen in April.
Paul Nicholls’ gelding tends to go well fresh, but he is 13lb above his last winning handicap mark.
Verdict: Last season’s Turners winner but he is on a tough mark back in a handicap on seasonal debut. AVOID
Jonbon
Race: Shloer Chase (2.55, Sunday)
Odds: 1-2
A winner of ten of his 12 starts under rules, his only defeats being second-place finishes behind stablemate Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the high-class El Fabiolo in the Arkle at this year’s festival.
He impressed when claiming the Grade 1 Celebration Chase — on his first start in open company — at Sandown when last seen in April, a win that produced a Racing Post Rating of 170. That figure would have been good enough to win eight of the last ten runnings of this contest.
He is open to improvement being a seven-year-old and his main market rivals Edwardstone and Nube Negra both have questions to answer after putting in disappointing performances last time out.
Verdict: High-class novice chaser last season and potentially more to come this campaign; tough to oppose. BACK
Onlyamatteroftime
Race: Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (3.30, Sunday)
Odds: 5-1
He improved significantly on a couple of midfield finishes in maiden hurdles when promoted to first after finishing second at 25-1 in a Punchestown bumper in June.
He was not disgraced in third back over hurdles at Roscommon on his next start and still looked to be in contention before ducking left and running out when sent off the 3-1 favourite on his first start for owner Paul Byrne in his first handicap at Cork in August.
He has since left trainer Niall Madden and joined Willie Mullins. The stable switch has the potential to unlock some improvement and it is interesting to see him receive significant market support in the build-up to Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle, for all that this is a marked step up in class from his recent assignments.
Verdict: Crashed out late on when still in contention at Cork last time and he has since joined Willie Mullins. Market support is interesting but others have achieved more. AVOID
Read these next:
Who wins the Paddy Power Gold Cup? Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the big-race contenders
Do you want £400+ of free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.
inBritain
Copy- Four Epsom eyecatchers who it can pay to follow throughout the remainder of the season
- 'We can't let our elite races look after themselves because they won't' - Ascot warning as royal meeting fails to attract stars from Far East
- 'He thinks he’s won the Derby!' - Voyage was first past the post at Epsom but it was a surreal experience for oblivious owner Julie Wood
- 'We were so pleased with how well he took that race' - Adam West hoping for a confidence boost for Live In The Dream at Haydock on Saturday
- 'The reception was amazing. It summed up what everyone thought of him' - Paul Hanagan leads tributes to Rob Burrow
- Four Epsom eyecatchers who it can pay to follow throughout the remainder of the season
- 'We can't let our elite races look after themselves because they won't' - Ascot warning as royal meeting fails to attract stars from Far East
- 'He thinks he’s won the Derby!' - Voyage was first past the post at Epsom but it was a surreal experience for oblivious owner Julie Wood
- 'We were so pleased with how well he took that race' - Adam West hoping for a confidence boost for Live In The Dream at Haydock on Saturday
- 'The reception was amazing. It summed up what everyone thought of him' - Paul Hanagan leads tributes to Rob Burrow