Cheltenham selections Sunday 17th November
It is going to be a big day for trainer Fergal O’Brien at his local track as he unleashes stable star Dysart Enos for the day’s feature the Greatwood Hurdle. However the mare is not O’Brien’s only potential winner on the day. I have selections for three races on the card. We had a solid Saturday with wins for East India Dock (advised 2/1) and Hamsiyann (advised 5/2) plus each-way places for Lets Go Champ (advised 10/1) and Wonderful Eagle (SP 6/1).
Cheltenham 2.20: Matata
Although he is now 0-3 at Cheltenham and I suspect this undulating track is not his ideal set up, there are good reasons to think MATATA can gain that first Cheltenham success and gain revenge on his conqueror here last month, Calico.
A point and go merchant, he is always going to be seen to best effect on a flat track. However at least this Old Course is much sharper, and therefore he has far more chance of maintaining an early lead – especially in a small field.
Calico was able to follow Matata around here last month, allowing Dancing on My Own to soften the selection up before pouncing late. However I suspect Matata will find it easier to dominate here, unless Calico himself takes him on. This good ground will allow Matata’s early speed to have maximum effect and with his other two rivals on the comeback trail, there are no issues with his fitness.
Cheltenham 2.55: Manothepeople & Hymac
Two horses successful at this track on similar ground in April are fancied to follow up here.
MANOTHEPEOPLE will go down in the record books as Paddy Brennan’s final career winner, bouncing off the drying ground and seeing out the 3m2f trip strongly up the hill. That was a first win since December 2022 and I think he has every chance of defying a 7lbs rise.
He made a perfectly satisfactory reappearance at Chepstow last month, hitting the front three out before tiring. The form of that race has taken a decent boost with winner Neon Moon going on to place in a valuable contest at Ascot recently.
HYMAC made most to win the 3m4f chase on the same card in April, relishing the first attempt at a marathon distance. Good ground certainly helped and whilst this race represents a significant step up in grade, I think the 8yo is up to the task.
He had a good warm up for this by winning a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot recently, and whilst he is 3lbs out of the handicap he has a nice low weight to carry and he remains unexposed at this sort of trip.
Cheltenham 3.30: Dysart Enos & Be Aware
Two lightly raced hurdlers are fancied to land one of the big handicap hurdles of the season.
DYSART ENOS is a deserved favourite having gone unbeaten in six starts under rules. She proved one of the top bumper horses of 2023, culminating in an emphatic success in the graded race at Aintree. She then transferred that ability to hurdles last season.
She had no issues with the track when winning here in December, and would surely have gone close at the Festival but for picking up a minor knock at the last minute. By that time she had won a third hurdle with the minimum of fuss at Doncaster. She is already proven – indeed probably prefers a sound surface and an opening handicap mark of 131 looks very exploitable.
BE AWARE did not run on the flat, in bumpers or points before embarking on a hurdling career at Newbury in January. He did very well therefore to win on his first start. His inexperience got the better of him when a slow jump at the last cost him victory at Lingfield.
However he learned from those outings, finishing a close second at Kempton next time (the 2m5f trip possibly stretching him) before putting in a fine handicap debut when second to Helnwein on the final day of the season at Sandown. He will surely improve a great deal this season and his connections have an excellent record in this race over the years.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Matata – 2.20 Cheltenham – 13/8 William Hill
1pt each-way – Manothepeople – 2.55 Cheltenham – 8/1 Bet365, Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Hymac – 2.55 Cheltenham – 7/2 Skybet
1pt win – Dysart Enos – 3.30 Cheltenham – 9/4 general
1pt each-way – Be Aware – 3.30 Cheltenham – 7/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)