Day Two Cheltenham November Meeting Preview

The first race of the day at Cheltenham on Saturday is the Grade Two JCB Truimph Hurdle Trial and in the two mile event, we are siding with the Gordon Elliott trained Duffle Coat.

The three year old has been seen three times so far during his career and is still unbeaten having won all of his events since starting in September.

He made a nice debut at Punchestown when seeing off a 13 strong field to land the event by six lengths and he then backed that up at Gowran Park in a better event.

He was sent over for his British debut at Wetherby last month and landed a Listed event by eight lengths, staying on the best of the field to comfortably land the event.

Although needing to improve in better company, he has already shown his progressive nature and just needs to take that next step forward.

The Conditional Jockeys' and amateur riders handicap chase over a marathon trip sees a talented field of stayers go to post and we fancy the Colin Tizzard trained Lamanver Pippin.

The seven year old gelding was fairly consistent on his three starts last term, winning and placing in two of his three events and making his seasonal debut in this company makes him interesting.

The seven yer old is a proven stayer, having finished third at the festival in March in the National Hunt Chase behind Ravenhill.

Before that he won a nice event at Chepstow over three miles and in these types of events a proven horse that will stay the trip is exactly what you need.

One of the most exciting events on the Saturday card is the Grade Two Novices' Chase and on his debut Quel Destin makes obvious appeal for the inform Paul Nicholls yard.

The five year old was a superstar over hurdles landing five races in a row in the 2018/19 season, including races like The Grade Two Triumph Trial at Cheltenham, another Grade Two event at Doncaster and then finally landed his first Grade One at Chepstow in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

He has been hit and miss since then, running on the flat and over hurdles, but last time out he got back to winning ways at Bath in a 13 runner handicap event and if taking to the bigger obstacles could be an interesting runner.

The feature race of the day is the 2 mile 4 furlongs Paddy Power Handicap Chase and in this 17 runner Grade Three event we have two strong each way contenders.

The first is the Nicky Henderson trained Mister Fisher, who this season has been tipped to really break the mould and have a breakthrough campaign over fences.

Having been a smart horse over hurdles, landing races like the Grade Two Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial at Haydock, he stepped over fences last term and had a pleasing year.

Having finished second at Warwick on chasing debut, he went to Cheltenham in a decent Novices' event and used the step up in trip to full effect when winning nicely.

He then went to Doncaster and landed the Grade Two Novices' Chase and used that to finish a strong fourth in the Grade One Marsh Novices' Chase at the festival.

He starts his season off in this Handicap event and if being tuned up has to be on the shortlist, being a course and distance winner and proven in better company.

Our second runner at a bigger price is the likeable Slate House for Colin Tizzard, with the trainer finally starting to churn out winners after a slow start.

Slate House has not been shy of winning at Cheltenham, landing hurdle events and chase events last term including an impressive Novices' Chase event last term.

He looked sure to be the winner in this event last term when taking a fall two out and although being hard to back since then, has a live chance at a double figure price.

He was put into much better company on his last two starts and was outclassed in the Grade Two Cotswalds Chase and the RSA at the festival, but before that was seeking a hat-trick after wins at Huntingdon and at Kempton in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase and returning to that form makes him respected.

The Listed Handicap Hurdle over three mile is a wide open affair and the horse that takes the eye is the inform Kim Bailey trained Dandy Dan.

The seven year old is fairly unexposed for his age and runs over hurdles on Saturday for the first time since 2018 having placed in six of his last seven chase events, winning three of them.

The gelding made his seasonal return at Sedgefield in the 3m5f Durham National Handicap Chase finishing a nice second and now 5lb lower, dropped in trip and over smaller obstacles, he has to be a live player.

The penultimate event on Saturday sees the Class 3 Intermediate Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 5 furlongs and Son Of Camas For Nicky Henderson is not without a chance.

The five year old, having landed one of his two bumpers made his hurdles debut last term and got off the mark in fine style at Newbury, looking like a potentially smart horse.

Since then he has been seen twice in tough company, finishing third in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle behind Fiddlerontheroof and last time out stepped up to the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the festival and was pulled up when well beat.

This event is much lesser than both of those and it looks a perfect opportunity to get back on track.

One of our best bets of the day comes in the lucky last with the Listed two miles bumper showing off some potential superstars and Elle Est Belle is arguably the pick of the bunch.

The daughter of Fame And Glory made a superb debut at Aintree last month seeing off six runners with ease, landing the event by close to six lengths.

The filly looks an exceptional recruit for Dan Skelton, having been bought for €42,000 this year and in this event looks one of the more likely winners if coming on for her first experience.