Racing Post experts with the big pointers from Cheltenham and Punchestown

Slate House one to keep in mind

The biggest hard luck story at Cheltenham on Saturday must be Slate House, who was travelling particularly sweetly when coming down at the second-last in the BetVictor Gold Cup.

He had made up a lot of ground from the back and, despite a 12lb rise in the handicap from his previous win, is capable of landing a race of this nature off his current handicap mark.

Compensation may await in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham's December meeting providing he is none the worse for his fall. It would be no surprise if he progressed beyond handicaps by the end of the season. He could even become a contender for the Ryanair Chase if he continues to progress.
Lewis Porteous

Buveur in pole position

Saldier shot to the top of the betting for the Unibet Champion Hurdle after beating ante-post favourite Klassical Dream in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday, but what if last season's Supreme winner was not the rightful market leader in the first place?

Saldier's position makes sense, but it could be easily argued Buveur D'Air – the Champion Hurdle hero in 2017 and 2018 – should head those prices.

Trainer Nicky Henderson has been making positive noises this autumn about the eight-year-old, who signed off last season in style after landing the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and appears the one to beat in March.
James Burn

Notebook worthy of mention

The most obvious questions from Punchestown on Saturday will revolve around whether Faugheen will hit similar heights over fences as he did over hurdles and whether Saldier is a genuine Champion Hurdle contender after his Morgiana success.

But hovering a little below the radar on Saturday, and undeservedly so, was the performance of Notebook in making it two out of two over fences in the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase.

This horse is simply a joy to watch in the way he attacks his fences and clearly loves jumping in a way that has transformed his fortunes.

Not to be underestimated either is the way he adapted from good ground at the same venue the previous month to the much softer conditions prevalent on Saturday. It made no difference to him and he jumped equally well if not better at the weekend.

He has some bigger guns to take on at Christmas potentially, but everything he has done so far has been extremely likeable and he can go far this season.
Justin O'Hanlon

Thyme Hill: held in high regard by his stableCredit: Edward Whitaker

Happy days for Hobbs

Cheltenham staged two 2m5f hurdle races on Saturday. Philip Hobbs won them both and should win plenty more races this season with the two winners.

Thyme Hill had looked an excellent prospect when third in the festival's Champion Bumper. From two hurdles starts he is now a dual Grade 2 victor, having followed up his Persian War success under Richard Johnson with a straightforward dismissal of decent opposition at Cheltenham.

"I think Dickie ought to pay us to ride him – you just click and go," said Hobbs's wife Sarah. That underlined the regard in which Thyme Hill is held, yet stablemate Jatiluwih was equally impressive when storming home in the intermediate handicap hurdle under his significantly improved owner-jockey David Maxwell.

Hobbs should have plenty of fun plotting programmes for these two exciting youngsters.
Lee Mottershead

Battleoverdoyen ready for bigger tasks

The first of Punchestown's two-day fixture was likely the more informative of the two but Battleoverdoyen brought some star quality to Sunday's card with a performance that taught us plenty.

There were multiple positives to take from the performance, with his jumping generally nimble and clever. Having to bypass fences in an unorthodox scenario likely didn't see him to best effect and stepping up to three miles is surely going to unlock some improvement.

The RSA Chase hope looked to be saving a little for himself in front in the straight but that is no bad trait and he remains one to be excited about.

Yanworth also proved he is a capable operator in the cross-country discipline and he could be a major player in the Cheltenham centrepiece in March.

Next month's Cotswolds assignment will seriously test him due to it being a handicap contest, but expect him to peak at the festival when the weights are level.
Mark Boylan

Thyme Hill looks too big at 14-1 with bet365 for the Ballymore next MarchCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Defi confirms himself a class act

Perhaps Phillip Hobbs has the two most likely candidates to complete the November Meeting-festival double in Thyme Hill and Defi Du Seuil.

Thyme Hill is tough, despite his age, and you have got to love the way he goes about his business. The Challow is next and he already looks a big player in the Ballymore.

Defi Du Seuil is a real pro now. The JLT looked the strongest of the novice chases in March and that certainly seems to be the case now.

With Lostintranslation set to thrive over three miles, the temptation must be there to take a Ryanair flight but, before then, he deserves a crack at the Tingle Creek to see whether he is a Champion Chase contender. Everything about him oozes class.
David Jennings

One, two, three, look at Mr Lee

The ride Sam Lee produced to win the Listed Spinal Injuries Association Big Buck's Handicap Hurdle was eyecatching enough.

Having been held up for the first two miles he moved through the field, kicked on as they began their descent from the top of the hill, jumped two out with little more than a length advantage and then really stole it going into and coming off the bend.

He got his mount over the last, felt him wandering and moved to the rail for help and won cosily enough by two and a half lengths. He did not look out of place in the finish with Charlie Deutsch, Tom Bellamy Richard Johnson and Adrian Heskin in pursuit and it was only after crossing the line and you looked at the racecard you noticed Sam Lee was prefaced by Mr and came with (7).

A good rider is a huge advantage in amateur rider events and Lee is worth keeping onside in any such contests for the rest of the season and, given the number of amateur events at the festival, it would be worth noting if he turned up again in March aboard something with half a chance.
Stuart Riley

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