Wednesday 15 November 2017 12:58, UK
Sky Sports News' Alex Hammond previews the November Meeting at Cheltenham in this week's blog and she fancies Starchitect in the feature race.
There are plenty of novices on show at this weekend's November Meeting at Cheltenham, which horse is the one you're most excited about seeing?
Vision Des Flos is Sky Bet's 3/1 ante-post favourite for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle on Friday and last season's Irish bumper winner will be a popular choice after a promising hurdle debut for new trainer Colin Tizzard at Chepstow last month. He has an exciting future. I'm a big fan of Jonjo O'Neill's Palmers Hill though and hope he can run well at a decent price (currently 8/1). Like the favourite he's only four-years-old and cost a tidy sum back in the spring. This horse came through the point-to-pointing world and won on his second start in that sphere. He made a winning debut for new connections at Uttoxeter and he should progress from that low key starting point.
Finian's Oscar (Tizzard) v William Henry (Nicky Henderson) v West Approach (Tizzard) v Movewiththetimes (Paul Nicholls) should make for an exciting two and a half mile Novices' Chase on Friday if they all line up. Where do you start with this little lot? Finian's Oscar is a dual-Grade One winning novice hurdler and made a winning debut over fences last month. William Henry hasn't had a lot of racing, but looks the type to excel now chasing for his in form yard. West Approach is now seven and a half-brother to Thistlecrack; he never really hit the heights over hurdles albeit holding his own in good company, but made a winning chase debut at Ffos Las last month. Like some of these, he has other entries this weekend, he is in the three mile novices' chase on Saturday, I can't imagine he'll take on Finian's Oscar, but you never know. Finally, Movewiththetimes made a solid debut over fences at this track last month, but that was over an inadequate two miles and the step up to this trip will suit and there will be more to come. It's a really hard race to call, but definitely one to pay close attention to.
It'll be interesting to see if West Approach runs on Saturday over three miles rather than in the two and a half miler on Friday, if he does he could come up against Ballyoptic (Nigel Twiston-Davies) and Black Corton (Nicholls). Another smart novice chase in prospect.
Finally, there are some lovely novice hurdlers to look out for in Sunday's Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle. With the likes of Slate House (Tizzard), Dame De Compagnie (Henderson), Lalor (Richard Woollacott) and Western Ryder (Warren Greatrex) entered, it should be informative. Maybe Dame De Compangie could be the one with the valuable 7lb mares weight allowance. She won on debut for her new stable in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter and is a lovely type. She's 5/4 favourite for Sunday's race and 25/1 for the Cheltenham Festival race in March.
Exitas is Sky Bet's 3/1 favourite for this ultra-competitive handicap chase for permit holder Phil Middleton. Middleton sends out plenty of winners and is someone I'm always happy to side with and he has a 50 per cent strike-rate at the moment. He has been quick to snap up the services of talented young conditional James Bowen who is close to losing his valuable 7lb claim and is superb value for that. Bowen was in the saddle for his win at Ascot earlier this month and the horse comes here having won three of his last four starts. The only negative about him as far as I can see, is his price, which seems a tad skinny for a race like this. Having said that, I wouldn't complain about a 3/1 winner, would you? Last year's winner Un Beau Roman is 2lb lower than when winning this 12 months ago, but that is a result of him losing his way. His price reflects that, but at 16/1, could be each-way value if rediscovering that form. His form in the run up to the race in 2016 was uninspiring, so you never know.
Starchitect
Starchitect looks to be good each-way value to me at current price of 10/1 with Sky Bet. I'm a big fan of David Pipe's six-year-old and tipped him to make a winning reappearance at Stratford earlier this month. He duly obliged and hopefully that was a first step to bigger and better things this season. He won in a decent time that day and Saturday's two-and-a-half mile trip looks his optimum at the moment. He's been a smashing horse for Pipe, who took over his training from Donald McCain two years ago. He's won on the Flat, over hurdles and twice over fences now. He's rated 144, a mark that certainly looks workable, I fancy him to run a big race and hopefully he might win it.
Well, he's certainly the one to fear. Nicky Henderson was interviewed on At The Races earlier this week and said that something has just clicked with this horse since last season. He won a couple of little races over hurdles last term, but was also disappointing and didn't look like a world beater in the making. However, he has apparently turned over a new leaf and is looking more like the horse they hoped he would be. It could well be that he is more mature, but whatever it is, he has been well backed to win this. That's the crunch, if you fancy him, there's the niggle that you have missed the price and at 4/1 he doesn't look like great value. I'd have fancied backing him at a decent each-way price, but am happy to let him run on Sunday. The horse that will carry a bit of my cash is Flying Tiger, who at 16/1 looks backable to finish in the first four. Nick Williams' charge ran well in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last weekend, just appearing to get tired, before finishing third behind London Prize and Lough Derg Spirit. He won the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival and is now 7lb higher in the ratings. I fancy him to run well for his in-form stable.
Apple's Shakira in the opening race on Saturday, the Triumph Hurdle Trial. Nicky Henderson now trains this three-year-old filly for JP McManus, who bought her from France after she won her only start over hurdles impressively, or, as the commentator said "facilement" (easily). As a full sister to Apple's Jade she will have cost a pretty penny and has the burden of a sizeable reputation to carry around with her. However, she gets a 7lb mares weight allowance in this race and is unpenalised for her low grade win at Vichy in May. The Henderson team will be disappointed if she can't make a nice impression here. She is currently 16/1 third favourite with Sky Bet for the Triumph in March and that is likely to contract with a good show on Saturday.
