Ross Millar: November Meeting reflections plus three Monday tips

The November Meeting at Cheltenham was typically informative. 

The Sunday feature, the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, had been billed as the battle of “the two best handicapped hurdlers in Britain”, Burdett Road and Dysart Enos. 

Both ran fine races but it was the former who proved best for trainer James Owen. 

A summer racing in competitive fields on the Flat has taught him to settle and under a positive ride and without his usual hood he looked a vastly better horse and was always pulling out enough to keep the fast finishing Be Aware at bay. 

Conversely it was probably a lack of experience that thwarted the Fergal O’Brien-trained Dysart Enos. She raced too freely and made niggling jumping errors at a crucial time. I wonder whether in hindsight connections regret not giving her a prep race. She remains capable of better and all is not lost. 

Saturday’s feature race was the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Much talk heading into it was whether the Paul Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny could emulate stable mate Stage Star and win off a mark of 155 on his seasonal return. 

He couldn’t and in truth it never looked likely though Nicholls’s still plundered the prize with his other runner Il Ridoto. 

A regular at this track in these premier handicaps he was given an excellent no-nonsense ride from Freddie Gingell and could be called the winner from some way-out. 

It’s a race worth watching back on the Racing TV site as I’m sure plenty of winners will emerge from it, especially those who attempted to close from a long way back – a tactic that has been proven to be virtually impossible on the old course. 

The star of the show on Friday was undeniably Jonbon who landed a second Shloer Chase. 

On my TV screen he looked rather on the portly side and was given a more conservative ride by Nico De Boinville than when blitzing the field in this race last year, which I think strongly suggests he was nowhere near fully wound up for this assignment. 

His jumping once again looked solid – as it always has when partnered by Nico De Boinville and I loved the tenacity he showed when challenged at the last. Maybe this is the season he can capture the Champion Chase. 

He was the established star on show but it would be remiss not to mention Potters Charm who produced an emphatic performance to win the Grade Two novices’ hurdle. 

His jumping was much improved and he clearly has a big engine, I wouldn’t get too carried away though just yet as runner-up Valgrand showed far less zest than when winning at this track in October.  

My attention on Monday is at Leicester where field sizes are passable. I have three selections:  

True to his word Paul Nicholls has really kicked into gear in the past fortnight and is currently operating at a strike rate of 30% so his newcomer, Jakar Du Moulin automatically deserves respect. 

However, I think this race probably revolves around the two with recent hurdle form - Woodland Park and A Moments Madness. 

My preference is for the former. His trainer, Olly Murphy, is so far maintaining the fine start he’s made to the season with a winner to runner rate of 33%. 

Woodland Park made a promising start to his hurdling career at Carlisle when  finding pnly the experienced and well-weighted four-year old I Wish You too good. 

Over 2m Woodland Park possibly found himself a bit tapped for toe down the back straight at Carlisle and had plenty of ground to make up turning in to face the hill. 

He did nothing wrong and jumped soundly but having closed the gap impressively to draw alongside he failed to find the reserves to get to the front. 

It was nevertheless a solid debut. I’d expect him to step forward for that experience and I’m confident he’ll improve for this extra half-mile. 

His jockey, Sean Bowen, is riding out of his skin  and can notch up yet another winner as he bids to gain his first champion jockey title. 

I expect Murphy and Bowen to land a quick-fire double courtesy of the veteran The Wolf. 

He gained his first win for 18 months at Huntingdon last week, when appearing to be revitalised by the switch of headgear from blinkers to a visor. 

Having often looked moody in recent times it was heartening to see him race prominently and with zest. 

He has to shoulder a 7lb penalty for his latest win but I’m sure the revised handicap mark on Tuesday would mean he’s effectively well in here so that’s less of a concern. 

Of course, the quick turnaround, drop in trip and livelier ground are all potential banana skins as is the simple possibility that the visor doesn’t work as effectively second time round. 

However, he’s exceptionally well handicapped compared on his best form and has clearly pleased connections since his win. I expect a similar performance and result. 

I’d advise you to watch this race with a notepad and pen to hand as I think it might well prove a source of winners moving into the season. 

Dominic’s Fault caught the eye when finishing fast at Carlisle last month but the drop back in trip is not certain to suit. 

While King Ottokar a 93-rated Flat performer looks ridiculously well handicapped off just 100 but has a two-year absence to overcome. 

Ballybreeze is my selection and he also has a sizeable absence of a year to defy. 

However, his handicap mark over hurdles is 12lb lower than it is over fences and for that reason I can’t ignore him. 

His record of one win from 11 starts doesn’t accurately reflect the level of ability he has and with that sole win coming on good ground it may well be that these are conditions that suit him best. 

Further hope comes from the fact that his trainer, Sam Drinkwater sent out Spike Jones to win at Lingfield last week after a similarly long layoff. I’m optimistic he can repeat the trick here.