Five jumping stars to look forward to this weekend

The jumps season is well and truly into stride and the three-day November meeting at Cheltenham this weekend promises to host a number of stars. Punchestown also holds a top-class card, headed by the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle. Here are several runners we can potentially look forward to watching . . .

SATURDAY

Coneygree
1.50 Cheltenham

The 2015 Gold Cup winner has only ran five times over the past three seasons but he looks set to return to the scene of his greatest triumph on Saturday in the 3m3f handicap chase.

The 11-year-old, who won the Gold Cup as a novice in 2015 for trainer Mark Bradstock, was last seen pulling up in the Ladbrokes Trophy in December but has schooled nicely at home in the build-up to this meeting.

Any rain would help this talented gelding and a return to winning ways would lift the roof at Prestbury Park.

Coneygree: could return to action this weekendCredit: Alain Barr

2.25 Cheltenham

Mick Channon's stable star returned to action with an eyecatching win in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle and looks primed for a big run in the BetVictor Gold Cup on Saturday.

The six-year-old, who won the Close Brothers Handicap at the festival in March, has only run six times over fences and there looks to be much more to come from the son of Court Cave.

SUNDAY

Lalor
1.50 Cheltenham

Lalor provided trainer Kayley Woollacott with an emotional first Grade 1 winner last season at Aintree and the six-year-old looks set for an exciting chasing campaign, with the Cheltenham Festival on the agenda.

The gelding, who enjoyed a productive season over hurdles, looks every inch a chaser and he could put his Arkle credentials to the test on Sunday.

Samcro
2.15 Punchestown

This Gigginstown-owned gelding dominated the novice hurdling ranks last season with emphatic victories at the Dublin Racing Festival and in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He was sent off at 4-9 to win on his seasonal debut in the WKD Hurdle earlier this month but could only finish second to the race-fit Bedrock. He was subsequently pushed out by bookmakers for the Champion Hurdle after the slightly underwhelming performance. Trainer Gordon Elliott insisted we would see a different horse in the Morgiana Hurdle and the son of Germany will face his acid test this Sunday.

Brain Power: runs at Cheltenham on SundayCredit: Mark Cranham

Brain Power
2.25 Cheltenham

With Altior set to swerve the Shloer Chase on Sunday, last season's Racing Post Arkle runner-up looks set to represent Seven Barrows in the 2m contest.

The seven-year-old, who was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles, won on his chasing debut at Kempton but has fallen in two of chase starts too, including when attempting to chase Un De Sceaux home in the Clarence House Chase.

His runner-up effort behind Footpad at the festival was undoubtedly the gelding's best effort to date and, following a wind op over the summer, he should be ready to go and highlight his talents.

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