WE’VE arrived at the final day of Cheltenham’s November meeting, and after the drama of the first two days, we look set for more high-quality action today.
The Greatwood Hurdle takes centre stage today, but before we get onto that, let’s look at what the final day of the November meeting has to offer.
🏇 Cheltenham November Meeting day three odds and selections
Odds provided by top horse racing betting sites are correct at the time of writing, and are subject to change.
1:15 Mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle – 2m
The opening race on the final day of the November meeting boils down to how the 105-rated flat performer AMBIENTE FRIENDLY will take to hurdles.
Her trainer, James Owen, has become well known for getting the best out of his flat recruits when tackling hurdling. Should Ambiente Friendly put in a satisfactory round of jumping, then her flat class will be enough to see her making a winning hurdles debut.
Outside of her, Bras d’Or should come forward plenty for his hurdles debut, and looks set to go well at bigger odds.
Selection: Ambiente Friendly 11/4
➡️ Bet on AMBIENTE FRIENDLY for the Mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle with bet365
1:45 Bottlegreen Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2m4f
All eyes will be on Quennsbury Boy, who makes his chase debut for his new connections, and if you were to forgive him for his below-par run in the Persian War Novices Hurdle, he would be entitled to be bang there at the finish.
However, one who has won at Cheltenham and comes here on the back of a satisfactory chase debut behind the talented Lump Sum, and who looks sure to come forward plenty for that experience, is JAX JUNIOR.
All be it that he was beaten 18 lengths on the day, he was a further nine lengths in front of the third-place finisher, and that was over a trip short of his best.
Lucy Wadham has had one winner from her last four runners, and now, faced with a step back up in distance, Jax Junior can play a leading role here.
Selection: Jax Junior 5/1 (each way)
➡️ Bet on JAX JUNIOR for the Bottlegreen Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with BetMGM
2:20 Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Handicap Chase – 2m
A few here will enjoy the underfoot conditions, and an upset would not be a surprise. However, the Joe Tizzard runner TRIPLE TRADE is a course and distance winner, and now sits 7lb lower than when beating Calico back here in 2023.
He runs well when fresh, and given his course form, he looks one of the more obvious ones here.
At bigger odds, Glengouly and St Faz look sure to put their best foot forward.
Selection: Triple Trade 4/1
➡️ Bet on TRIPLE TRADE for the Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Handicap Chase with Betway
2:55 Oddschecker Handicap Chase – 3m3f
There is one thing that this race will turn into, and that is a stamina-sapping slog. Tanganyika arrives with conditions firmly in its favour and has already been well received in the market. In a race like this, it’s easy to leave him running at his current odds.
Transmission only chase win came at this track, and he has shown solid form in defeat, none better than his second to Irish Grand National winner, and Gold Cup hopeful Haiti Couleurs. The only slight worry would be if the ground remained on the heavy side. Protektorat would have a chance if he were fully ready to go on his comeback, but he can easily be taken on, given that he must carry 12st.
The one who I have fallen on, and one who will relish this kind of test under these ground conditions, is BEAUPORT.
Beauport made a winning return last season when taking apart the Berkshire National field by 31 lengths. The handicapper duly hit him for that win, and he now starts the season off a 10lb higher mark.
That mark will not be an issue should he bounce back to form, and given that he was placed in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle after his Berkshire National win, it shows that he possesses a bit of class.
It’s easy to forgive him for his run in the Grand National, and it’s easy to see Beauport making its way back to the winners’ enclosure.
Selection: Beauport 6/1 (each way)
➡️ Bet on BEAUPORT for the Oddschecker Handicap Chase with SBK
3:30 Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle – 2m
A wide-open Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle to solve here, and it’s hard to rule out any from running well.
Mirabad has been the money horse all week, and he currently sits at the top of the market. He would obviously have his chance, but he will need a career best on his first start for the Skeltons to take this.
If the ground hadn’t turned on the bad side of soft, then Celtic Dino would have had a standout chance of following up his Chepstow win. Alexei wasn’t far behind him at Chepstow last month, and it’s easy to see him coming forward again on the back of an impressive win at Ascot.
For me, he rates the biggest danger to the selection SERIOUS CHALLENGE. The Fergal O’Brien-trained five-year-old is three from six over hurdles and comes here on the back of a satisfactory seasonal return at Chepstow. Ground conditions have very much turned in his favour, and with the return to front-running tactics on the horizon, he looks sure to play a major role in the finish of the Greatwood Hurdle.
Fiercely Proud and Knickerbockerglory are ones that can outrun their double-figure odds.
Selection: Serious Challenge 7/1 (each way)
➡️ Bet on SERIOUS CHALLENGE for the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle with bet365
4:00 Listed Three Counties Christmas Open National Hunt Flat Race – 2m
We close off the 2025 Cheltenham November Meeting with a listed bumper, and a few interesting runners are lining up, but none more so than Gavin Cromwell’s BUD FOX.
The son of Walk In The Park won his point-to-point and backed that up with a win in a Punchestown Festival bumper last season. The second, fourth, and fifth have all gone on to win since advertising the form well.
This will be Bud Fox’s first run since that win in April, but given where he is hailing from, you can expect Gavin Cromwell to have him ready to go to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Away from the top of the market, Tom Cooper’s Saint Cloves has shown progressive form in Ireland and can run well at bigger odds.
Selection: Bud Fox 7/4
➡️ Bet on BUD FOX for the Listed Three Counties Christmas Open National Hunt Flat Race with BetMGM
About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun.
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