THE Paddy Power Gold Cup, one of the most popular premier handicap chases of the season, takes centre stage on day two of the November meeting.
Jagwar, who has only ever been beaten once over fences, has two wins at Cheltenham, but will top weight be too much for him to handle today?
🏇 Cheltenham November Meeting day two odds and selections
Odds provided by top horse racing betting sites are correct at the time of writing, and are subject to change.
12:35 Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle – 2m
When it comes to juvenile hurdles at this time of the season, it can be a bit of guesswork with very little form to go on.
Precious Man, who sits at the top of the market for the Skeltons, is a winner over hurdles at Auteuil, but there is a drastic difference in track layout at Cheltenham, and we have seen many juveniles come over and not act around here. The positives, though, are that he has hurdling experience, but it may be worth taking him on at the prices with SECRET FORCE.
The Gavin Cromwell-trained three-year-old was a winner on his hurdles debut at Punchestown in the mists of Cromwell’s poor form. The form of the yard has yet to turn, but the manner in which Secret Force won that day smacked of a horse with a lot more improvement to come.
At the current odds, he is worth siding with each way.
Selection: Secret Force 11/2 (each way)
➡️ Bet on SECRET FORCE for the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle with bet365
1:10 Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase – 3m1f
I’ve always been a fan of Aurea Fortuna, and he looks like a horse going places after winning two of his three starts this season. However, the slight worry about backing him at his current odds would be the heavy ground that he is likely to encounter.
Yes, he has won on soft ground, but he has been withdrawn from two races last season with heavy in the going description. I’m happy to leave him run at his current odds, and side with KELCE as an each-way alternative.
He has won two of his seven chase starts and has only finished outside of the top two twice. Once when falling at the last at Market Rasen, and the other was over course and distance when just over one length off the winner, Smugglers Haven.
Kelce has a winning form on soft ground, and the deterring conditions should not hold him back. Neil Mullholland also won this last season with Transmission, the same owners as Kelce, and a repeat bid could well be on the cards.
Selection: Kelse 17/2 (each way)
➡️ Bet on KELSE for the Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase with BetMGM
1:45 Grade 2 Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase
On paper, this is a good renewal of the Arkle trail. Burdett Road, who has form behind Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill at Kempton, and twice runner-up to Golden Ace, which includes the Champion Hurdle. However, he has never struck me as one who would take to fences. His jumping over hurdles leaves a lot to be desired, and if he brings that to his chasing career, he will be lucky to get around.
Henry de Bromhead won this race with the mare Put The Kettle On before she went on to win the Arkle the same season, and followed that with the Champion Chase the following season.
He may have another mare who will follow in Put The Kettle On’s shoes by winning this race with JULY FLOWER.
A Grade 3 winning mare over hurdles last season at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, the daughter of Pastorius left a taking impression when winning as she liked on her chase debut at Limerick.
There will be no ground issue as she has a winning form on deep ground in France, and with that experience behind her, she will prove hard to beat.
Selection: July Flower 5/4
2:20 Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase – 2m4f
In what doesn’t look the deepest of renewals of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, it might be there for the taking for last season’s Festival Plate Handicap Chase winner JAGWAR.
The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained six-year-old comes into this season with a record of four wins from five chase starts. Two of his chase wins have come at Cheltenham, and he is one of the very few in this field that look open to considerable progression.
A slight negative would be the record of runners winning this very race on their first start, but with the ground conditions likely to take the chances of a number of the fancied runners away, Jagwar can be the one to buck the trend.
One who may give him the most to think about is Vincenzo. His trainer, Sam Thomas, has already shown this season that he can get one of his runners ready to fire on their first start of the season, and he is also one who will not mind if the ground conditions worsen.
At bigger prices, Conyers Hill, Hunters Legend, and Come UP Easy all have place claims.
Selection: Jagwar 9/2 (each way)
➡️ Bet on JAGWAR for the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase with SBK
2:55 From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle – 3m
Dan Skelton’s Supremely West has been well back into the favourite, and is sure to go well on the ground he will enjoy. However, in a race as competitive as this, it can pay to look further down the field.
Long Draw has a record of 2114 at Cheltenham, and he was runner-up in this very race last season to the well handicapped Hamsiyann. He will run his race once again and looks sure to hit the place.
However, one who is ever-present at Cheltenham and shows his clear best form at this track is the nine-year-old GOWEL ROAD.
The Twiston-Davies-trained runner last season alone finished runner-up at Cheltenham no less than four times, which includes a second to Lucky Place in the Relkeel Hurdle, and a win in the Cleeve Hurdle.
Yes, he has no wiggle room off his current mark, but you can set your clock by him around Cheltenham, and he comes here race fit after a run last month.
At 10/1, he looks a solid each-way bet in a wide-open race.
Selection: Gowel Road 10/1 (each way)
➡️ Bet on GOWEL ROAD for the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle with bet365
3:30 Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle – 2m5f
The punultimate race on Paddy Power Gold Cup Day is one of the most competitive ones. Many of the 13 strong field have clear chances, but none more so than JURANCON.
The David Pipe-trained six-year-old has three wins and two runner-up finishes from his five hurdle starts. The Pipe yard has had a good start to the season, and Jurancon has been touted for this race at the beginning of the season.
He got the better of the talented Tripoli Flyer last season and has the profile of a progressive hurdler. He starts the season on a mark of 132, a mark that should be well within his reach. The ground conditions will hold no fears, and with progression likely to come, Jurancon could prove hard to beat.
Last time out winner French Ship will likely prove a danger, but he must contend with an 8lb higher mark, and different underfoot conditions.
Others who can run well at a price are De Temps En Temps, Give Him A Chance, and Hamsiyann.
Selection: Jurancon 7/2
➡️ Bet on JURANCON for the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle here with BetMGM
4:00 Listed Cheltenham Guardians Safeguarding Team Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race – 2m
The ground conditions are going to be an unknown for many of the runners here, so an each-way play looks the way to view this race.
Sean Bowen gets the leg up on Celestial Tune, who was an impressive winner of a mares bumper at Listowel, and should she handle ground conditions, her experience may see her through. But at 4/1, she can run at those odds.
One sitting at bigger odds than she should be is John McConnell’s AMINA. The Pimlico Racing Syndicate mare has good form in the bag already. She finished runner-up to Good Girl Kathleen at Limerick, who has won a maiden hurdle and finished runner-up in a Listed hurdle, while the third, Emily Love, has gone on to win four in a row and most recently won at Far Hill on American Grand National Day.
She returned with a second-place effort at Limerick over 2m, but the ride that John Glesson gave her was questionable to say the least. But now with Darrgh O’Keeffe getting the leg up, this daughter of Zarak looks overpriced in a wide-open closer on day two of Cheltenham’s November meeting.
Selection: AMINA 16/1 (each way)
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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