[current diary]

Updated: 2nd November 2010 - GG.com

November Fireworks

November's racing action ushers out the old and brings in the new on November 6 courtesy of the November Handicap at Doncaster, the Flat's last big handicap on the closing day of the season while over at Wincanton the Badger Ales Trophy Handicap and the Elite Hurdle announce the arrival of the jumps season proper.

Kauto Star
© racing-images.co.uk

In the latter two events the David Pipe team is always likely to field a strong candidate for the Badger Ales Chase and in the Elite Hurdle, the in-form and versatile Australia Day should secure the honours at the West Country track. Over at Down Royal on the same day Kauto Star can begin his campaign on a high note by landing the JNwine.com Champion Chase where Henry de Bromhead may persist in his misguided attempt to turn Sizing Europe into a three-mile chaser.

Great Endeavour
© racing-images.co.uk

A week later the jumps season really does switch into top gear with the BetVictor Gold Cup on November 13. Nicky Henderson's much-hyped Long Run heads the market and most likely the weights but he has plenty to prove after seeming ill-suited by the course when well-beaten in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March and a better alternative might well be Great Endeavour, an improving sort from David Pipe's stable and a course and distance winner at the Festival in March.

On the third and final day of the Paddy Power Open Meeting Henry de Bromhead's Loosen My Load could well be a warm order as he tests his novice chasing credentials in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase and by an interesting quirk of fate Tataniano, last season's Independent Chase winner, could well make a successful return to the fray in in the Connaught Chase on November 7. The Paul Nicholls-trained chaser could go right to the top of the two-mile scene and will be hard to beat.

What A Friend
© racing-images.co.uk

A week later Haydock takes centre stage alongside Aintree as the two courses provide days one and two of the North West Masters racing weekend. In the Betfair Chase at Haydock Imperial Commander, who goes best fresh, will try to reverse placings with What A Friend who thumped him so comprehensively at Aintree in April when the Gold Cup hero put in a shocking round of jumping and there is a sense that Imperial Commander is a something of a one-dimensional Gold Cup winner who finds it hard to win away from Cheltenham. He has the chance to prove that notion wrong in this year's Betfair Chase.

Over at Ascot Silviniaco Conti bids for a rapid-fire hat-trick in the Coral Ascot Hurdle where he is sure to face much stiffer opposition than he encountered at Chepstow last time. At Aintree on November 21 there will be a couple of races over the Grand National fences courtesy of the Becher Handicap Chase and the Grand Sefton Chase. Fans of the Grand National should watch the outcome of the Becher Chase closely because the race often throws a horse that goes well in the big race next April.

Newbury brings down the curtain on a stupendous month's racing with the three-day Hennessy meeting occupying pride of place. Punters can get off to a good start on November 25 by backing whatever horse Paul Nicholls sends out to contest the Berkshire Novices' Chase on that date and the same advice also applies to the Worcester Novices' Chase on November 26. Paul Nicholls boasts an excellent record in both these influential chases.

Burton Port
© racing-images.co.uk

In the Hennessy Gold Cup on November 27 Denman will bid for an unprecedented third straight success in the great long-distance chase but he might well be vulnerable this time around to a powerful challenge from a rich crop of second-season chasers including Diamond Harry, Burton Port, Pandorama and Weird Al.

In the Long Distance Hurdle on the dame day Big Buck's should make a successful start for the season and the same goes for Binocular who will be hard to beat in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle over at Newcastle on November 27.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips

Archive October 2010